Sen. Chris Dodd took an indirect swipe at Barack Obama after he came out as the only candidate for teacher merit pay at yesterday's National Education Association conference.

"I fear that instituting a merit pay system may encourage teaching to the test and discourage teachers from working in schools with large numbers of disadvantaged students," Dodd said in a press release today. Dodd's position should play well among the NEA, which has previously opposed merit pay -- though the audience gave the popular Obama a pass for now.

Obama promises to release details of his education plan later, but said he would incentivize teachers who work in urban and poor-performing school districts, contra Dodd's fear of a teacher exodus in those areas. Obama said he'd increase pay across the board and give additional money to educators teaching high-demand subjects like math, science and special education as well as those who mentor. On linking pay to student achievement, Obama said the country can find ways to increase pay for teachers that aren't imposed on them and isn't based on "arbitrary tests."

The Vlog has excerpts of Obama, Dodd and Mike Huckabee at the NEA.