Facing what looks like a tougher-than-expected reelection effort, Sen. Christopher Dodd has a fundraiser scheduled for tomorrow evening, March 18, at a location “TBD.” (click the link to see the invite) Dodd is asking “hosts” to pony up $10,000 (PACs will be the hosts, and they’ll be asked to give $5,000 for the primary and $5,000 for the general election, maxing out in March for an election twenty months away. To be a co-host, a PAC can contribute $5,000, while individuals can get in the door (which door?) for a mere $1,000.

Dodd started to raise funds earlier than that. On January 26, 2009, Dodd had a fundraiser at the Washington, D.C., offices of the Investment Company Institute, which represents a host of mutual fund providers that included, in 2007 (the last year for what membership data is available), some of the biggest names in TARP — CitiGroup and Goldman Sachs. (click the link to see the invite) ICI president and CEO Paul Schott Stevens was listed as one of five hosts of the event. He also testified before Dodd’s Senate Banking Committee on March 10 at a hearing devoted to “Enhancing Investor Protection and the Regulation of Securities Markets.” In his prepared statement, Dodd didn’t disclose that one of his witnesses had just hosted a fundraiser for him six weeks before.

Hat tip to the invaluable Party Time and its proprietor, Nancy Watzman, for a heads up on the invites, and to Glenn Reynolds, who’s been following this incredibly closely.