The perfect opportunity for Dodd either to re-invent himself or provide a legacy. If he goes down, take with him as many of the bastards as he can. Do some damage on the way out. He has a year during which he can use hearings, subpoenas and testimony under oath to brand financial services executives as thieves and frauds.  He may not be able to take down them and their companies, but he can impair them and lay groundwork for eventual dismantling. Enough of that and he might not need campaign donations.  News reports would serve instead.  

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."