Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) acknowledged today that he is working behind the scenes to broker a deal that would keep his home-state colleague, Sen. Joe Lieberman (ID-Conn.), in the Democratic caucus, and possibly avoid taking away Lieberman’s chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs panel.

“I think most of my colleagues would like to create an opportunity for Joe, if Joe wants to come back and be a part of the Democratic Caucus and I welcome that. And if he wants to be supportive of the Obama administration and their needs, and so there is conversation going on over how to accommodate that if we can,” Dodd told reporters after chairing a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs hearing.

He added, “I’m working with the leaders, and others, and Joe to see if we can’t come to some agreement or understanding that would allow Joe to come back to our caucus to be an active member.”

Dodd has been working with Lieberman allies such as Sens. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.), Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) to find a way to keep Lieberman in the caucus while assuaging the anger of fellow Democrats who bristled at his endorsement of Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) and his aggressive criticism of President-elect Barack Obama’s candidacy.