Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., who officially jumped into the presidential race Thursday, could point to an experience dealing with some conservative Utahns to show that he has deft diplomatic skills.

The liberal Eastern Catholic Democrat married into a family of LDS Utah Valley Republicans, "and we all love him. We think he's great," says his brother-in-law, Dr. Michael L. Clegg, who now is among very few Utahns (along with four sisters) who can say they have an in-law running for president.

Dodd is married to Orem native Jackie Marie Clegg, who was an aide for 10 years to former Sen. Jake Garn, R-Utah. She also was a top official at the Export-Import Bank, formed her own lobbying and strategic planning firm, and is on several boards of national corporations.

Along with Ann Romney, wife of presumed GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, Clegg is now among two women with Utah and LDS Church ties in the running to become the first lady of the United States. And, interestingly, both are now New Englanders.

Michael Clegg, a physician now living in Logan, says it was interesting to watch "this liberal Eastern senator visit my family, which is pretty conservative — although my mother was a Democrat" as he dated his sister over several years.

"My dad (Carl Clegg) was probably the most staunch Republican in all of Utah Valley," which is known for having maybe the most staunch Republicans in all of America, Dr. Clegg says.

"My dad was maybe the most hesitant of the family" to embrace Dodd. "But my dad couldn't find any way not to like him. He impressed my dad. He (Dodd) was always very straightforward and respectful. He's always treated my sister well. And my dad and all of us grew to love him," Dr. Clegg said.

To cap it off, when Clegg's father died a year and half ago, Dodd "spoke at the funeral and did a wonderful job," Dr. Clegg said.

Dr. Clegg said his sister met Dodd while working in the Senate for Garn, and they dated for years.

That long courtship was underlined, interestingly, in a 2003 interview with the New Haven Register with Dodd just after he had decided not to run for president in 2004.

When an interviewer asked what the toughest decision he ever made was, Dodd hesitated — and his wife laughingly filled in saying, "The hardest decision was asking me to marry him. That one took him 11 1/2 years."

Of interest during those years of dating, Clegg once had a confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking Committee when President Clinton nominated her to become the No. 2 official at the Export-Import Bank. One of its members was Dodd, who had the unusual opportunity to ask his girlfriend-nominee some questions.