Sen. Christopher J. Dodd is getting professional political help — and none to soon, given the recent polls showing that the Connecticut Democrat’s 2010 re-election prospects have run into trouble.

Veteran Democratic campaign manager Jay Howser has signed on to run Dodd’s bid for a sixth term representing Connecticut in the Senate.

The early hire of a sought-after campaign chief signals how seriously Dodd takes the threat of losing his seat after a series of mostly self-inflicted wounds.