Summer travel

For many, the beach beckons on the first weekend of official summer. Or a barbecue. Or a ballgame.

For Chris Dodd, there's this: today, the Democratic presidential hopeful gives a big speech (title: "Rekindling The Flame --- A Call for A New American Patriotism") in Nashua, N.H. Then, as long as he's there, he'll paint some murals in town with community activists, according to his campaign's website.

Tonight, Dodd's got a "meet and greet" at a home in Manchester, N.H., and Sunday he's got two similar events elsewhere in the state. In other words, he'll be shaking a lot of hands and making a lot of small talk.

Say what you will about candidates for the White House, they pay some heavy dues.

It'll be variations on the same theme for most of the other contenders this weekend. Several will be scarfing up donations hither and yon, given the impending end of the second quarter fundraising period (June 30) and the attendant folderol over who totaled how much.

Republican Mike Hucklebee will talk today to the Americans for Fair Taxation group in Columbia, S.C.; Democrat John Edwards conducts a town hall meeting in Reno.

Hillary Clinton, after flying from Washington to Los Angeles for a speech on Friday, heads to Little Rock for a star turn before Arkansas Democrats this evening (well, it's not like she won't be prepared for summer weather in that state).

At first, it sounded as if Republican Mitt Romney was going to kick back a bit --- Sunday will find him at Boston's Fenway Park. But there's a catch: he's hosting a cookout and tour at the home of the Red Sox for his major donors.

Who will have the most memorable time on the trail before Monday dawns?

We're betting Elizabeth Edwards, wife of the aforementioned John. She'll be breakfasting Sunday with the Alice B. Toklas Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Democratic Club at San Francisco's Sir Francis Drake Hotel.

-- Don Frederick

Photo: Sen. Chritopher J. Hodd; Credit: HO/AFP/Getty Images