Linda McMahon U.S. Senate campaign, 2010
Encyclopedia
Linda McMahon
, formerly CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment
, ran for U.S. Senator from Connecticut
from September 16, 2009 to November 4, 2010. On May 21, 2010, she won a majority of support from the Connecticut Republican Party
. She ran as a Republican
, promising lower taxes, fiscal conservatism
, and job creation. McMahon spent $50 million of her own money on the campaign
, allowing her to refuse campaign donations from special interest groups. She gained name recognition and popularity over her Republican opponents, including Rob Simmons
, the prior frontrunner.
Simmons, who forced an August primary election
, had suspended his campaign shortly after the State Republican convention, but resumed campaigning in late July, participating in debates, and advertising on television. Peter Schiff
gained placement on the primary ballot by collecting signatures. McMahon won the August 10th primary, but lost the general election to Richard Blumenthal
, then Attorney General of Connecticut, her Democrat
opponent.
. McMahon announced her candidacy on the morning of September 16, 2009. Her husband assumed her duties as CEO at WWE effective immediately. Wrestling fans and political observers initially were incredulous, some thinking the announcement was an "on-screen publicity stunt
". As McMahon began airing television and radio advertisements touting her business credentials, it became clear that the campaign was a serious effort.
McMahon began her campaign encouraged by news of slumping approval ratings for Dodd. Her Republican opponents had directly attacked directly him, leveraging popular sentiment against his "insider status" and "fiscal irresponsibility". Connecticut voters stated that the economy and healthcare were their most pressing issues. A November poll showed Rob Simmons as the favorite in the Republican field with a 30-40 point lead over other candidates.
. Her campaign manager, former State Senator David Cappiello, received a salary of roughly $280,000.
McMahon ran as an outsider, criticizing the Senate for its connection to Wall Street
and federal banking bailouts
. Her campaign ads emphasized her distance from politics, stressing she was "not a career politician". She criticized the current Senate for passing large bills in a perfunctory manner, particularly the $800 billion stimulus package. Her first televised political ad, "Perseverance", touted her experience as a business leader, stating, "Thirty years ago, my husband and I started our business. It wasn’t always easy but we grew it into a publicly traded company that’s creating jobs here in Connecticut today."
videos of WWE for political ads. On October 16, Colleen Flanagan, a spokeswoman for Chris Dodd, posted controversial videos that showed the unsavory side of WWE on Talking Points Memo
, a political news website. She said the programming showed “simulated rape, public sex and necrophilia” and McMahon should not be Senator because she “condones this type of behavior”. Hours later, YouTube removed the videos after contact from WWE. WWE had informed YouTube that the material was copyright under US law.
The Connecticut Democratic Party filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission
asking for an investigation into what happened with the controversial videos. The complaint claimed that of the “almost 500,000” videos of WWE on YouTube, the three were removed selectively to help McMahon’s campaign.
and Rob Simmons, both established politicians among Connecticut Republicans. She lost some credibility among Republicans because of revelations about her voting record
McMahon admitted to not voting in 2006 and in the 2008 Republican primaries, saying she decided not to after it became clear that John McCain
was the presumptive Presidential nominee.
Because of faulty record-keeping at the Republican Registrar of voters in Greenwich, it was originally thought that she had only voted in 2000 and 2008. The claim—which had been published in the Associated Press—was debunked in January 2010 when the Registrar of votes in Greenwich admitted it had poor records, and had recently conducted a new search query. According to its investigation, McMahon had voted in the 2000, 2002, 2004, 2008, and 2009 elections.
As CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, McMahon donated to Republicans and Democratic Leadership Council-affiliated Democrats, including Sen. Joe Lieberman
in 2006 and Rahm Emanuel
from the period of 2002 to 2008. McMahon donated $10,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
on September 26, 2006, a contribution that helped Joe Courtney
weeks before his win against Rob Simmons for the Second Congressional District. Since 1980, McMahon contributed twice as much to Republicans as to Democrats—($70,700 to Republicans, $35,100 to Democrats, and $1,000 to independents). McMahon also donated to the Republican Majority for Choice
in 2006, a political action committee
favoring abortion
and the "big tent
" political strategy of the GOP. This record led conservative activists to label McMahon a RINO
.
Connecticut Republican voters were displeased to learn of McMahon's donations to Emanuel, a highly partisan figure who helped orchestrate the Democratic shift in the House
in 2006 and Barack Obama
's presidential win
. McMahon explained to voters that her donations to Emanuel were on behalf of Rahm's brother, Ari Emanuel
, who had represented WWE in Hollywood since 1992. According to McMahon, in 2002, "He (Ari) called me one day and he said, my brother is running for Congress in Illinois. It happened to be Rahm. I didn't know Rahm." McMahon made more donations over the course of the next several years, including one check she wrote when Rahm Emanuel came to WWE headquarters to meet her. McMahon's spokesperson clarified that McMahon didn't know who Rahm Emanuel was in '02, but was aware of his partisan status in '06.
In November 2009, former wrestler Billy Graham became an outspoken critic of McMahon's campaign. He said the McMahons were hypocrites for "toning down" the violence and sexuality in pro wrestling after many years of showing adult themes. He launched Internet videos on WrestleView saying the WWE's switch to PG was politically motivated: "...they (Linda and Vince) are doing it strictly to get Linda McMahon elected to Senator of Connecticut", he stated in one video. Billy Graham contracted Hepatitis C
from another wrestler's blood during his time in WWE and required a life-saving liver transplant as a result. When speaking about Linda, he said, "She may look like a Sunday school teacher. Linda McMahon's hands are as bloody as her husband's because she is aware of every move in the ring. She has had no problem with grown men—myself included—cutting their head with a razor blade. All of a sudden, why aren't these guys bleeding anymore? Because Linda is running for the Senate." Graham told reporters that he was furious about having no pension and no health care after his wrestling career with WWE.
McMahon's campaign responded directly to Graham's accusations, saying he was a "self-confessed liar". On November 12, The campaign sent a letter directly to WrestleView, where Billy Graham had posted videos, attacking his credibility. The campaign circulated an apology letter Graham had written to the company in 1996, saying "he has a habit of making false statements when he's not on WWE's payroll". In the letter, Graham had admitted to making unjustified verbal attacks following his termination in 1989.
as a fraud. (Simmons had courted Tea Party conservatives, and even carried a tea bag in his pocket) In December, a Washington Times article suggested that Simmons' appeals to conservatives were insincere, pointing to his past support for "cap and trade
" and "card check
", two hot button issues for the Tea Party. McMahon's campaign savaged this apparent flip-flop, sending mailings to Connecticut voters highlighting the issue. This hurt Simmons' standing among conservatives and labor unions.
Simmons focused later advertising on criticizing McMahon and the WWE. Many times, Simmons accused McMahon of trying to "buy the election". In January, he circulated YouTube videos of wrestler Eugene being humiliated on-screen, claiming the WWE was insensitive to the mentally-challenged. The McMahon campaign countered, saying Eugene, rather than being ridiculed, was an inspirational character who ultimately became "a hero".
Simmons launched negative ads attacking WWE's history of steroid abuse, its record of premature wrestler deaths, and circulated some of WWE's most politically-incorrect
segments. By March 2010, the Simmons campaign had gone so negative that some established Connecticut Republicans began to denounce his attacks.
launched Richard Blumenthal
, the Attorney General, as its new candidate. Blumenthal, who had a job approval rating over 80%, enjoyed near-unanimous support from Democrats and was considered a formidable opponent for any statewide office.
Although Connecticut is considered a solid Democrat-voting state, McMahon and Simmons sought to capitalize on the anti-establishment and anti-Democratic tide that had become a factor in the 2010 campaign season. In particular, Scott Brown
's win in Massachusetts
was seen as a good omen
for Republicans nationally, as it showed that a Republican could win in a "deep blue" state. A key factor in Brown's win had been his demand for fiscal responsibility, which McMahon made her centerpiece issue, attacking Simmons for his voting record as U.S. Representative. In new mailings, she pointed to Simmons' D-rating from the National Taxpayers Union
.
In March 2010, while Blumenthal continued to lead all Republican contenders by 20-30 points, McMahon took frontrunner status from Simmons. Her rise in the polls was attributed largely to her heavy media presence, as a polling researcher pointed out, "You can't miss her television ads. They're everywhere. She's the only candidate for Senate that's on TV right now." Political research showed that McMahon had gained strong popularity with female voters, social conservatives, and residents in Fairfield County
.
.
The timing of her memo was suspicious, as the investigation became public only on May 27, 1990, the day of the doctor's arrest. When the articles were published, Linda did not respond, but WWE did, telling reporters that McMahon only wanted the doctor "clued in" so he would know why he was fired. WWE said McMahon learned of the investigation through a company lawyer who had heard the Federal prosecutor involved, James West, carelessly talking about the case at a fundraising event. West said the WWE's story was a lie, denying ever discussing the case or attending the event in question. Although West and WWE continued to point fingers, McMahon and her campaign did not publicly discuss the story and its ongoing controversy. The news hurt McMahon's public image and, according to her critics, it provided evidence she had tried to "undermine a criminal investigation."
An article published in the Stamford Advocate raised attention to McMahon's voter registration drive at the University of Connecticut
, where college students were to be paid a $5 bonus for each voter they registered as a Republican. The potential moral hazard
in such a program created negative associations to ACORN
's 2008 controversy regarding invalid voter applications. Although the practice was not illegal, the bonus structure was removed from the drive.
on PAC contributions
. On May 17, a New York Times story revealed that Blumenthal had made false claims about his military service during the War in Vietnam.
On May 19, McMahon said that she played a role in the New York Times story and confirmed that her campaign helped uncover the facts. Her campaign sent a video of Blumenthal's questionable speech to the newspaper. Days later, McMahon's campaign posted a full version of that speech on YouTube, which showed Blumenthal clearly explaining his "Vietnam era" service early in his speech, clearing the discrepancy. The full version was a godsend for the Blumenthal campaign, and it softened the blow dealt by his later "in Vietnam" gaffe.
McMahon's campaign spokesman, Ed Patru, later told reporters that the campaign strategically "put its fingerprints" on the story to impress Republican delegates before the convention.
Simmons, the ostensible Party favorite, staked his campaign on the convention and said repeatedly he would not "force a primary" if he lost the convention. However, when Simmons lost many of his pledged delegates to McMahon, his viability was doubted by the media and state GOP. Pundits revealed that Simmons was under pressure to drop out and run for his former Congressional seat
. When Simmons was asked about the possibility, he did not explicitly "rule out" a change in races. Simmons was visibly frustrated by the negative media publicity he received as a result. Simmons then claimed that he had more delegates than McMahon by a wide margin. McMahon heavily outspent Simmons, maintaining a steady lead over both her rivals. Simmons could not fund TV ads after a drop in fundraising. In the weeks prior to the convention, Simmons failed to regain in the polls.
* Denotes candidate met the minimum threshold of 15 percent to appear on the primary ballot
* 708 delegates were required to win endorsement from the Republican Party
Schiff was polling at roughly 10% days before the convention and told many of his pledged delegates at the convention to switch to Simmons "because I didn't think McMahon was playing fair." Schiff told his supporters that McMahon's campaign had about 40 members on the convention floor attempting to garner more support while votes were being cast, breaking convention rules.
Simmons was deeply disappointed to lose on the first round of voting. Despite his promise to the contrary, Simmons then decided to force a primary with McMahon. Four days later, on May 25, Simmons reversed himself again, and suspended his campaign, saying he could not compete financially with McMahon's deep pockets. Although Simmons was no longer campaigning, he often disparaged McMahon to the press. He told The National Review that he did not think McMahon "can win at all". He also said that if she were to ask for his help, he would say he was "preoccupied". Simmons said he did McMahon a favor by stopping his campaign, but he did not endorse her. He said he would not call off the August primary because "voters deserve another choice." Many of Simmons' hardcore backers also refused to back McMahon.
In late July, Simmons re-entered the race by airing ads on TV reminding Republican primary goers that he was still on the ballot, as well as by participating in debates and editorial board discussions.
attributed much of the damage in her public image to months of criticism from Simmons and the media. On June 8, McMahon released her own internal polling to assure Republicans she was competitive with Blumenthal.
Nonetheless, negative sentiment towards McMahon fueled some momentum for both Simmons and Schiff.
Some Republican voters who had supported Simmons turned to Schiff, who shared their resentment towards McMahon and the convention. Schiff fared poorly in the convention, but collected over 10,000 signatures from Connecticut residents was placing him on the primary ballot.
McMahon spent the remainder of June and July attempting to control the wrestling element of her public image, which repeatedly received negative media attention. On June 22, McMahon's campaign gained unwanted attention
from a lawsuit filed by Martha Hart
, the wife of deceased wrestler Owen Hart
, in regard to a wrestling DVD featuring her husband. The WWE said her lawsuit was "meritless", nothing more than a "political hit job." McMahon launched TV ads embracing her career in WWE, downplaying negative opinion of wrestling as a form of "soap opera" entertainment. In July 2010, five women from West Hartford attacked her wrestling career, saying WWE encouraged profane and violent treatment of women. The McMahon campaign dismissed their group, Mothers Opposing McMahon, as a group of Democratic operatives, arguing that their press conference was organized and paid for by the Connecticut Democratic Party. Nonetheless, McMahon's campaign continued to fend off attacks, such as the Tom Cole affair and when she pretended to kick Jim Ross
before firing him as part of a WWE storyline.
McMahon won the Republican nomination on August 10 with 49% of the vote. Her win received a great deal of national attention, plenty of media coverage, and congratulatory calls from national Republicans Mitt Romney
and John Cornyn
. McMahon also received calls from Schiff and Simmons offering their support. McMahon's lack of a majority was derided by critics as a sign that Republicans were not fully satisfied with her candidacy. Simmons said it was possible that Schiff was a spoiler in the campaign, siphoning off support
that could have helped him defeat McMahon.
candidate against "establishment" figure Blumenthal.
, in August 2010 renewed controversy over WWE. Cade had abused painkillers and steroids during his career in WWE. When a reporter asked her about Cade, McMahon replied the WWE had no more ability to prevent his death "than a studio could have prevented Heath Ledger
's death", and said, "who knows what causes people to have addictions and do what they do?" She also told the Connecticut Post "I may have met him once". Cade's father disputed McMahon's assertion of so distant a connection, and her remarks prompted former WWE wrestler Christopher Nowinski
to speak out against McMahon and the WWE. He alleged that the abuse of steroids and painkillers was encouraged and rewarded by the company, saying McMahon was "just kicking dirt on the guy's grave." He also related a conversation he'd had with Cade in which Cade expressed a desire to stop using steroids, but said, "the pressure is to use them, because the WWE rewards the guys who use them."
WWE quickly responded to Nowinski's accusations, saying, "It is very dubious that he ever had a conversation with Lance Cade much less Lance Cade confiding to a total stranger that he used painkillers and steroids." The company also sought to discredit Nowinski by claiming that he had failed to disclose that he'd suffered previous concussions before signing his contract with WWE, as was required. They further disputed his claims as to the number of days wrestlers worked, on average, and observed that despite Nowinski's renown in the area of CTE
, a form of brain injury resulting from repeated concussions, he is not an expert in matters relating to steroids or pain killers. The charge that Nowinski was a "stranger" to Cade was refuted by Nowinski: He and Lance Cade had been tag team partners during 2002-2003, and co-workers until 2007.
he made on PAC donations. She used both TV ads and mailers to portray him as "dishonest" for accepting over $480,000 in PAC money in 2010, following $17,000 during the '80s.
In October, McMahon aired TV ads comparing Blumenthal to departing Senator Chris Dodd and the corruption of the Countrywide scandal
. During a debate on October 7, McMahon criticized his vote as a state Senator in 1989 for a $850 million tax increase. Blumenthal fired back, referencing her memo to Pat Patterson, saying that while he was a state Senator in 1989, "she was tipping off the doctor who worked for her about a federal investigation, a criminal investigation."
, a Republican who had been elected to the Senate in a January 2010 special election
to the seat long-held by Democrat Ted Kennedy
. The rally was held in front of Milford
City Hall and was attended by around 250 people. Brown had also faced a once-favored Democratic state attorney general in his bid for U.S. Senate, Martha Coakley
.
, lower taxes, and job creation. She opposed the 2009 stimulus act
, saying the money from the stimulus "went into government agencies, not the hands of small businesses that are going to create 70% of jobs." McMahon also denounced deficit spending
, expressing support for a Constitutional balanced budget amendment
. McMahon blamed Democrats for not reclaiming unspent money from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and the bailout package, saying the money should be used to repay government debts.
McMahon gave an interview supporting TARP in its original form, which was to purchase toxic assets in the context of a financial crisis. Nevertheless, she has been a strong opponent of the TARP program throughout the campaign, saying that the government over-stepped its authority in purchasing shares of the automobile and banking industries.
McMahon attacked the Federal Reserve for "micromanaging" small banks through the stimulus programs and called for an end to bank bailouts. McMahon alleged that the U.S. financial crisis could be attributed in part to the repeal of the Glass–Steagall Act in 1999, and advocated that Congress revisit the issue. She stated that small business creates most new jobs, and that government created many obstacles to economic recovery. She pushed for greater credit availability to help businesses invest.
On April 7, 2010, McMahon's campaign unveiled a jobs plan to "put Connecticut back to work." The plan was modeled on Reaganomics
, crediting Dr. John Rutledge
, who wrote many of Reagan's policies in 1980-81, as Chief Economic Adviser to the McMahon campaign. Proposals in the plan included:
McMahon supported offshore drilling
. After the BP Oil Spill, a McMahon spokesman said she desired stronger penalties for such incidents, but believed a moratorium on new drilling would devastate economies in Gulf
states, and make America "more dependent on foreign oil". She supported expanded drilling, naming the Outer Continental Shelf
, ANWR, the Green River Formation
, and the Bakken Shale Deposits
as attractive sites for energy exploration. McMahon also supported alternative energy, including fuel-cell
, solar, wind
and geothermal technology.
McMahon claimed to be socially moderate. She was pro-choice
, and donated to Republican Majority for Choice
. She did not support partial birth abortions and favored parental notification laws. McMahon opposed amnesty for illegal immigrants and supported border security. She supported fixing the visa application process to encourage legal immigration
. She generally supported gay rights, including the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell
. She personally felt that marriage should be between a man and a woman, but favored state authority on the issue of same-sex marriage
. McMahon voiced displeasure with federal statutes on same-sex marriage, such as the Defense of Marriage Act
.
On foreign policy, McMahon expressed interest in joining a defense-related committee in the Senate
. Concerning the war in Afghanistan
, McMahon said she was "apprehensive about the economic repercussions of a protracted war", but said "It is my hope that we bring our troops home safely as soon as possible, but we should bring them home responsibly and in victory, not defeat." During a Republican debate, she took a "hawkish" stance on Iran
, saying all options should be on the table, including the military one. She said that the U.S. military should be "second to none", and promised more representation to defense contractors from Connecticut, including Sikorsky
.
McMahon did not discuss the topic of federal programs such as Social Security
, Medicaid
and Medicare
in the weeks before the Republican primary, leading to accusations she was avoiding controversial issues. "She claims she wants to cut federal spending, yet refuses to discuss her position on Medicare and Social Security, two of the most costly entitlement programs."
McMahon's husband, Vince McMahon, did not actively campaign for his spouse, causing some to wonder if Linda was purposely distancing herself from him. In February 2010, Linda said Vince was too busy "running the company" as both Chairman and CEO to campaign, but said he may be involved “down the road”. Several speculators predicted that if he campaigned with her, his direct association with controversial wrestling skits would be a “major liability”.
McMahon's son-in-law, WWE wrestler Triple H
, gave an interview to the Wall Street Journal on March 12, 2010 where he said he had purposely kept an "arms length away from Linda" during her campaign to avoid giving her bad publicity. On March 14, 2010, a news story in the Stamford Advocate revealed that her husband, Vince McMahon
, owned a 47-foot sports yacht called "the Sexy Bitch". Linda's absence from the wrestling industry was also noted on April 20, when an article by the Greenwich Times reported that she was courting voters in Westport, Connecticut
while her husband was running a live wrestling event at the Mohegan Sun Arena
.
Vince McMahon appeared together with Linda for the first time on April 21, 2010, at a charity function at Sacred Heart University
. At one point during the event, he reportedly grabbed a microphone and said to Richard Blumenthal:
stated that poll workers had the right to bar voters wearing WWE merchandise to the polls, claiming they were "political items". WWE filed a federal lawsuit against Bysiewicz to prevent this. He also launched a "Stand up for WWE" campaign on the Internet and gave away company T-shirts and merchandise.
On October 30, 2010, WWE held a "Fan Appreciation Day" in Hartford, Connecticut. Vince acknowledged that the event was held to counter the negative publicity from the Senate race. During the wrestling show, McMahon distanced himself from his wife's political campaign, saying, "Some people may think I was going to talk about politics today. Nothing could be further from the truth. I do encourage you to vote this Tuesday, and while you're voting, feel free to wear a WWE T-shirt. I came out here to simply say thank you. That's what this day is all about. It's about fan appreciation. No one appreciates the fans more than World Wrestling Entertainment." The Connecticut Democrat Party filed an FEC complaint against Linda McMahon's campaign in October, claiming the WWE's "Fan Appreciation Day" was an "illegal campaign contribution". The complaint also cited the taping of "Smackdown in Bridgeport Harbor Yard" on Election Day, claiming it intended to suppress voter turnout in a Democrat-leaning community.
. During McMahon's concession speech, she gave a strong suggestion of a second campaign:
Linda McMahon
Linda Marie McMahon is an American professional wrestling magnate and politician. She is notable for her career developing WWE with her husband Vince McMahon. She was in the company from 1980 to 2009. During this time, WWE grew from a small regional business in New York to a large multinational...
, formerly CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
, ran for U.S. Senator from Connecticut
United States Senate election in Connecticut, 2010
The 2010 United States Senate election in Connecticut was a midterm election which took place on November 2, 2010 to decide a Class III Senator from the State of Connecticut to join the 112th United States Congress. Incumbent Democratic U.S...
from September 16, 2009 to November 4, 2010. On May 21, 2010, she won a majority of support from the Connecticut Republican Party
Connecticut Republican Party
The Connecticut Republican Party is the Connecticut affiliate of the U.S. Republican Party. Jerry Labriola Jr., a Wallingford attorney and 2010 candidate for Congress, is the party chairman, elected on June 28, 2011. Prior to his election as chairman, Labriola served as the party's...
. She ran as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, promising lower taxes, fiscal conservatism
Fiscal conservatism
Fiscal conservatism is a political term used to describe a fiscal policy that advocates avoiding deficit spending. Fiscal conservatives often consider reduction of overall government spending and national debt as well as ensuring balanced budget of paramount importance...
, and job creation. McMahon spent $50 million of her own money on the campaign
Political campaign
A political campaign is an organized effort which seeks to influence the decision making process within a specific group. In democracies, political campaigns often refer to electoral campaigns, wherein representatives are chosen or referendums are decided...
, allowing her to refuse campaign donations from special interest groups. She gained name recognition and popularity over her Republican opponents, including Rob Simmons
Rob Simmons
Robert Ruhl "Rob" Simmons is a retired U.S. Army Colonel and former U.S. Congressman from Connecticut. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2007, representing Connecticut's Second Congressional District as a Republican.Simmons ran as a candidate for the...
, the prior frontrunner.
Simmons, who forced an August primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
, had suspended his campaign shortly after the State Republican convention, but resumed campaigning in late July, participating in debates, and advertising on television. Peter Schiff
Peter Schiff
Peter David Schiff is an American investment broker, author and financial commentator. Schiff is CEO and chief global strategist of Euro Pacific Capital Inc., a broker-dealer based in Westport, Connecticut and CEO of Euro Pacific Precious Metals, LLC, a gold and silver dealer based in New York...
gained placement on the primary ballot by collecting signatures. McMahon won the August 10th primary, but lost the general election to Richard Blumenthal
Richard Blumenthal
Richard Blumenthal is the junior United States Senator from Connecticut and a member of the Democratic Party. Previously, he served as Attorney General of Connecticut....
, then Attorney General of Connecticut, her Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
opponent.
Background
In August 2009, McMahon's spokesperson said that she had considered running as a Republican candidate in the Connecticut Senate race for the seat then held by Democrat Christopher DoddChristopher Dodd
Christopher John "Chris" Dodd is an American lawyer, lobbyist, and Democratic Party politician who served as a United States Senator from Connecticut for a thirty-year period ending with the 111th United States Congress....
. McMahon announced her candidacy on the morning of September 16, 2009. Her husband assumed her duties as CEO at WWE effective immediately. Wrestling fans and political observers initially were incredulous, some thinking the announcement was an "on-screen publicity stunt
Kayfabe
In professional wrestling, kayfabe is the portrayal of events within the industry as "real" or "true". Specifically, the portrayal of professional wrestling, in particular the competition and rivalries between participants, as being genuine or not of a worked nature...
". As McMahon began airing television and radio advertisements touting her business credentials, it became clear that the campaign was a serious effort.
McMahon began her campaign encouraged by news of slumping approval ratings for Dodd. Her Republican opponents had directly attacked directly him, leveraging popular sentiment against his "insider status" and "fiscal irresponsibility". Connecticut voters stated that the economy and healthcare were their most pressing issues. A November poll showed Rob Simmons as the favorite in the Republican field with a 30-40 point lead over other candidates.
2009
McMahon opened her campaign with a media blitz. She advertised on television across the state. McMahon also hired high-profile campaign staff. Her campaign spokesman, Ed Patru, had worked on John McCain's 2000 presidential campaignJohn McCain presidential campaign, 2000
John McCain, the United States Senator from Arizona, launched his first candidacy for the presidency of the United States in the 2000 presidential election....
. Her campaign manager, former State Senator David Cappiello, received a salary of roughly $280,000.
McMahon ran as an outsider, criticizing the Senate for its connection to Wall Street
Wall Street
Wall Street refers to the financial district of New York City, named after and centered on the eight-block-long street running from Broadway to South Street on the East River in Lower Manhattan. Over time, the term has become a metonym for the financial markets of the United States as a whole, or...
and federal banking bailouts
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (Division A of , commonly referred to as a bailout of the U.S. financial system, is a law enacted in response to the subprime mortgage crisis...
. Her campaign ads emphasized her distance from politics, stressing she was "not a career politician". She criticized the current Senate for passing large bills in a perfunctory manner, particularly the $800 billion stimulus package. Her first televised political ad, "Perseverance", touted her experience as a business leader, stating, "Thirty years ago, my husband and I started our business. It wasn’t always easy but we grew it into a publicly traded company that’s creating jobs here in Connecticut today."
YouTube incident
In October 2009, Democratic political operatives used YouTubeYouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
videos of WWE for political ads. On October 16, Colleen Flanagan, a spokeswoman for Chris Dodd, posted controversial videos that showed the unsavory side of WWE on Talking Points Memo
Talking Points Memo
Talking Points Memo is a web-based political journalism organization created and run by Josh Marshall, journalist and historian covering issues from a "politically left perspective,". It debuted on November 12, 2000...
, a political news website. She said the programming showed “simulated rape, public sex and necrophilia” and McMahon should not be Senator because she “condones this type of behavior”. Hours later, YouTube removed the videos after contact from WWE. WWE had informed YouTube that the material was copyright under US law.
The Connecticut Democratic Party filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission
Federal Election Commission
The Federal Election Commission is an independent regulatory agency that was founded in 1975 by the United States Congress to regulate the campaign finance legislation in the United States. It was created in a provision of the 1975 amendment to the Federal Election Campaign Act...
asking for an investigation into what happened with the controversial videos. The complaint claimed that of the “almost 500,000” videos of WWE on YouTube, the three were removed selectively to help McMahon’s campaign.
Republican outsider
In October 2009, McMahon was viewed as a political outsider in the Republican Party (GOP). She faced competition from Sam CaligiuriSam Caligiuri
Sam S. F. Caligiuri is a lawyer and former Connecticut State Senator. In 2010, he ran for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, but switched for a House seat in Connecticut's 5th congressional district...
and Rob Simmons, both established politicians among Connecticut Republicans. She lost some credibility among Republicans because of revelations about her voting record
McMahon admitted to not voting in 2006 and in the 2008 Republican primaries, saying she decided not to after it became clear that John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
was the presumptive Presidential nominee.
Because of faulty record-keeping at the Republican Registrar of voters in Greenwich, it was originally thought that she had only voted in 2000 and 2008. The claim—which had been published in the Associated Press—was debunked in January 2010 when the Registrar of votes in Greenwich admitted it had poor records, and had recently conducted a new search query. According to its investigation, McMahon had voted in the 2000, 2002, 2004, 2008, and 2009 elections.
- See: Haigh, Susan. (2009-09-23) "Ex-wrestling CEO running for Senate missed voting." Associated Press Online. Retrieved 2010-01-25.
- See
- See: (2010-01-19) Neil, Vigdor. "All eyes on McMahon's voting record in Greenwich." Connecticut Post. Retrieved 2010-01-23.
- See: Linda McMahon: "I didn't vote, I regret it, I apologize, and I don't make any excuses for it" KocoSports. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
As CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, McMahon donated to Republicans and Democratic Leadership Council-affiliated Democrats, including Sen. Joe Lieberman
Joe Lieberman
Joseph Isadore "Joe" Lieberman is the senior United States Senator from Connecticut. A former member of the Democratic Party, he was the party's nominee for Vice President in the 2000 election. Currently an independent, he remains closely affiliated with the party.Born in Stamford, Connecticut,...
in 2006 and Rahm Emanuel
Rahm Emanuel
Rahm Israel Emanuel is an American politician and the 55th and current Mayor of Chicago. He was formerly White House Chief of Staff to President Barack Obama...
from the period of 2002 to 2008. McMahon donated $10,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is the Democratic Hill committee for the United States House of Representatives, working to elect Democrats to that body. They play a critical role in recruiting candidates, raising funds, and organizing races in districts that are expected to yield...
on September 26, 2006, a contribution that helped Joe Courtney
Joe Courtney (politician)
Joseph Courtney is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:Courtney grew up in suburban Hartford and became a 1975 graduate of Tufts University...
weeks before his win against Rob Simmons for the Second Congressional District. Since 1980, McMahon contributed twice as much to Republicans as to Democrats—($70,700 to Republicans, $35,100 to Democrats, and $1,000 to independents). McMahon also donated to the Republican Majority for Choice
Republican Majority for Choice
The Republican Majority for Choice is a Republican organization in the United States dedicated to preserving legal access to abortion. The group also supports federal funding for all kinds of stem cell research, including Embryonic stem cell research.....
in 2006, a political action committee
Political action committee
In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...
favoring abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
and the "big tent
Big tent
In politics, a big tent party or catch-all party is a political party seeking to attract people with diverse viewpoints. The party does not require adherence to some ideology as a criterion for membership...
" political strategy of the GOP. This record led conservative activists to label McMahon a RINO
Rino
Rino may refer to:* Republican In Name Only, a pejorative term for a person believed to not be a true Republican* Rino, a singer-songwriter that performs under CooRie* Rino Romano , Canadian voice actor...
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 2006 and Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's presidential win
Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2008
Barack Obama, then junior United States Senator from Illinois, announced his candidacy for the presidency of the United States in Springfield, Illinois, on February 10, 2007. On August 27, 2008, he was declared nominee of the Democratic Party for the 2008 presidential election...
. McMahon explained to voters that her donations to Emanuel were on behalf of Rahm's brother, Ari Emanuel
Ari Emanuel
Ariel "Ari" Zev Emanuel is an American talent agent, founder of the Endeavor Talent Agency in Beverly Hills, California, and now co-CEO of William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, Endeavor's successor by merger...
, who had represented WWE in Hollywood since 1992. According to McMahon, in 2002, "He (Ari) called me one day and he said, my brother is running for Congress in Illinois. It happened to be Rahm. I didn't know Rahm." McMahon made more donations over the course of the next several years, including one check she wrote when Rahm Emanuel came to WWE headquarters to meet her. McMahon's spokesperson clarified that McMahon didn't know who Rahm Emanuel was in '02, but was aware of his partisan status in '06.
Wrestling in the spotlight
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is an infectious disease primarily affecting the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus . The infection is often asymptomatic, but chronic infection can lead to scarring of the liver and ultimately to cirrhosis, which is generally apparent after many years...
from another wrestler's blood during his time in WWE and required a life-saving liver transplant as a result. When speaking about Linda, he said, "She may look like a Sunday school teacher. Linda McMahon's hands are as bloody as her husband's because she is aware of every move in the ring. She has had no problem with grown men—myself included—cutting their head with a razor blade. All of a sudden, why aren't these guys bleeding anymore? Because Linda is running for the Senate." Graham told reporters that he was furious about having no pension and no health care after his wrestling career with WWE.
McMahon's campaign responded directly to Graham's accusations, saying he was a "self-confessed liar". On November 12, The campaign sent a letter directly to WrestleView, where Billy Graham had posted videos, attacking his credibility. The campaign circulated an apology letter Graham had written to the company in 1996, saying "he has a habit of making false statements when he's not on WWE's payroll". In the letter, Graham had admitted to making unjustified verbal attacks following his termination in 1989.
McMahon-Simmons rivalry
McMahon and Simmons engaged in negative campaigning in November 2009. In one political mailing, McMahon portrayed Simmons to the Tea Party movementTea Party movement
The Tea Party movement is an American populist political movement that is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009...
as a fraud. (Simmons had courted Tea Party conservatives, and even carried a tea bag in his pocket) In December, a Washington Times article suggested that Simmons' appeals to conservatives were insincere, pointing to his past support for "cap and trade
Emissions trading
Emissions trading is a market-based approach used to control pollution by providing economic incentives for achieving reductions in the emissions of pollutants....
" and "card check
Card check
Card check is a method for American employees to organize into a labor union in which a majority of employees in a bargaining unit sign authorization forms, or "cards," stating they wish to be represented by the union...
", two hot button issues for the Tea Party. McMahon's campaign savaged this apparent flip-flop, sending mailings to Connecticut voters highlighting the issue. This hurt Simmons' standing among conservatives and labor unions.
Simmons launched negative ads attacking WWE's history of steroid abuse, its record of premature wrestler deaths, and circulated some of WWE's most politically-incorrect
Political correctness
Political correctness is a term which denotes language, ideas, policies, and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, certain other religions, beliefs or ideologies, disability, and age-related contexts,...
segments. By March 2010, the Simmons campaign had gone so negative that some established Connecticut Republicans began to denounce his attacks.
Blumenthal replaces Dodd
On January 7, just hours after Chris Dodd announced his retirement, the Connecticut Democratic PartyDemocratic State Central Committee of Connecticut
The Democratic State Central Committee of Connecticut is the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of Connecticut. The state chair of the party is Nancy DiNardo, and the Vice Chair is State Representative Steve Fontana...
launched Richard Blumenthal
Richard Blumenthal
Richard Blumenthal is the junior United States Senator from Connecticut and a member of the Democratic Party. Previously, he served as Attorney General of Connecticut....
, the Attorney General, as its new candidate. Blumenthal, who had a job approval rating over 80%, enjoyed near-unanimous support from Democrats and was considered a formidable opponent for any statewide office.
Although Connecticut is considered a solid Democrat-voting state, McMahon and Simmons sought to capitalize on the anti-establishment and anti-Democratic tide that had become a factor in the 2010 campaign season. In particular, Scott Brown
Scott Brown
Scott Brown is a United States senator.Scott Brown may also refer to:-Sportsmen:*Scott Brown , American college football coach of Kentucky State...
's win in Massachusetts
United States Senate special election in Massachusetts, 2010
The 2010 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts was a special election held on January 19, 2010, in order to fill the Massachusetts Class I United States Senate seat for the remainder of the term ending January 3, 2013...
was seen as a good omen
Omen
An omen is a phenomenon that is believed to foretell the future, often signifying the advent of change...
for Republicans nationally, as it showed that a Republican could win in a "deep blue" state. A key factor in Brown's win had been his demand for fiscal responsibility, which McMahon made her centerpiece issue, attacking Simmons for his voting record as U.S. Representative. In new mailings, she pointed to Simmons' D-rating from the National Taxpayers Union
National Taxpayers Union
National Taxpayers Union is a taxpayers advocacy organization and taxpayers union in the United States, founded in 1969 by James Dale Davidson. NTU advertises that it is the largest and oldest grassroots taxpayer organization in the nation, with 362,000 members nationwide. It is closely...
.
In March 2010, while Blumenthal continued to lead all Republican contenders by 20-30 points, McMahon took frontrunner status from Simmons. Her rise in the polls was attributed largely to her heavy media presence, as a polling researcher pointed out, "You can't miss her television ads. They're everywhere. She's the only candidate for Senate that's on TV right now." Political research showed that McMahon had gained strong popularity with female voters, social conservatives, and residents in Fairfield County
Fairfield County, Connecticut
Fairfield County is a county located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The county population is 916,829 according to the 2010 Census. There are currently 1,465 people per square mile in the county. It is the most populous county in the State of Connecticut and contains...
.
April controversies
In articles published by the New London Day and Politico.com, Linda's controversial "tip-off" memo resurfaced, raising new questions regarding her ethical judgment. The 1989 memo asked a WWE executive to "clue in" a company doctor to possible legal action he might face from the Federal government. At the time, the FBI was investigating the doctor for selling steroids to WWF wrestlers, including Vince McMahonVince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy "Vince" McMahon is an American professional wrestling promoter, announcer, commentator, film producer, actor and former occasional professional wrestler. McMahon is the current Chairman, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of professional wrestling promotion WWE...
.
The timing of her memo was suspicious, as the investigation became public only on May 27, 1990, the day of the doctor's arrest. When the articles were published, Linda did not respond, but WWE did, telling reporters that McMahon only wanted the doctor "clued in" so he would know why he was fired. WWE said McMahon learned of the investigation through a company lawyer who had heard the Federal prosecutor involved, James West, carelessly talking about the case at a fundraising event. West said the WWE's story was a lie, denying ever discussing the case or attending the event in question. Although West and WWE continued to point fingers, McMahon and her campaign did not publicly discuss the story and its ongoing controversy. The news hurt McMahon's public image and, according to her critics, it provided evidence she had tried to "undermine a criminal investigation."
An article published in the Stamford Advocate raised attention to McMahon's voter registration drive at the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
, where college students were to be paid a $5 bonus for each voter they registered as a Republican. The potential moral hazard
Moral hazard
In economic theory, moral hazard refers to a situation in which a party makes a decision about how much risk to take, while another party bears the costs if things go badly, and the party insulated from risk behaves differently from how it would if it were fully exposed to the risk.Moral hazard...
in such a program created negative associations to ACORN
Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now
The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now was a collection of community-based organizations in the United States that advocated for low- and moderate-income families by working on neighborhood safety, voter registration, health care, affordable housing, and other social issues...
's 2008 controversy regarding invalid voter applications. Although the practice was not illegal, the bonus structure was removed from the drive.
New York Times Vietnam story
McMahon focused her attention towards the presumptive Democratic challenger in the few weeks before the convention. On May 12, she launched political TV ads on Blumenthal's apparent flip-flopFlip-flop (politics)
A "flip-flop" , U-turn , or backflip is a sudden real or apparent change of policy or opinion by a public official, sometimes while trying to claim that both positions are consistent with each other...
on PAC contributions
Political action committee
In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...
. On May 17, a New York Times story revealed that Blumenthal had made false claims about his military service during the War in Vietnam.
On May 19, McMahon said that she played a role in the New York Times story and confirmed that her campaign helped uncover the facts. Her campaign sent a video of Blumenthal's questionable speech to the newspaper. Days later, McMahon's campaign posted a full version of that speech on YouTube, which showed Blumenthal clearly explaining his "Vietnam era" service early in his speech, clearing the discrepancy. The full version was a godsend for the Blumenthal campaign, and it softened the blow dealt by his later "in Vietnam" gaffe.
McMahon's campaign spokesman, Ed Patru, later told reporters that the campaign strategically "put its fingerprints" on the story to impress Republican delegates before the convention.
Republican convention
McMahon, Schiff, and Simmons competed for the nomination at the convention on May 21, 2010. Prior to the Convention, McMahon had urged supporters to register for the Republican primary, suggesting that she would run even if she had not won the Republican nomination. Schiff similarly had indicated that he would run regardless of the convention's results.Simmons, the ostensible Party favorite, staked his campaign on the convention and said repeatedly he would not "force a primary" if he lost the convention. However, when Simmons lost many of his pledged delegates to McMahon, his viability was doubted by the media and state GOP. Pundits revealed that Simmons was under pressure to drop out and run for his former Congressional seat
Connecticut's 2nd congressional district
Connecticut's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in the eastern part of the state, the district includes the towns of New London, Norwich, Storrs, Groton, and Southwood Acres....
. When Simmons was asked about the possibility, he did not explicitly "rule out" a change in races. Simmons was visibly frustrated by the negative media publicity he received as a result. Simmons then claimed that he had more delegates than McMahon by a wide margin. McMahon heavily outspent Simmons, maintaining a steady lead over both her rivals. Simmons could not fund TV ads after a drop in fundraising. In the weeks prior to the convention, Simmons failed to regain in the polls.
* Denotes candidate met the minimum threshold of 15 percent to appear on the primary ballot
* 708 delegates were required to win endorsement from the Republican Party
Schiff was polling at roughly 10% days before the convention and told many of his pledged delegates at the convention to switch to Simmons "because I didn't think McMahon was playing fair." Schiff told his supporters that McMahon's campaign had about 40 members on the convention floor attempting to garner more support while votes were being cast, breaking convention rules.
Simmons was deeply disappointed to lose on the first round of voting. Despite his promise to the contrary, Simmons then decided to force a primary with McMahon. Four days later, on May 25, Simmons reversed himself again, and suspended his campaign, saying he could not compete financially with McMahon's deep pockets. Although Simmons was no longer campaigning, he often disparaged McMahon to the press. He told The National Review that he did not think McMahon "can win at all". He also said that if she were to ask for his help, he would say he was "preoccupied". Simmons said he did McMahon a favor by stopping his campaign, but he did not endorse her. He said he would not call off the August primary because "voters deserve another choice." Many of Simmons' hardcore backers also refused to back McMahon.
In late July, Simmons re-entered the race by airing ads on TV reminding Republican primary goers that he was still on the ballot, as well as by participating in debates and editorial board discussions.
Republican primary
In the weeks after her victory at the Republican Convention, McMahon fared poorly in political polls and suffered from high unfavorability ratings among both Democrats and Republicans. The Cook Political ReportCook Political Report
The Cook Political Report is an independent, non-partisan online newsletter that analyzes elections and campaigns for the United States House of Representatives, the United States Senate, Governor's offices and the American Presidency. The Cook Political Report is led by a staff of five...
attributed much of the damage in her public image to months of criticism from Simmons and the media. On June 8, McMahon released her own internal polling to assure Republicans she was competitive with Blumenthal.
Nonetheless, negative sentiment towards McMahon fueled some momentum for both Simmons and Schiff.
Some Republican voters who had supported Simmons turned to Schiff, who shared their resentment towards McMahon and the convention. Schiff fared poorly in the convention, but collected over 10,000 signatures from Connecticut residents was placing him on the primary ballot.
McMahon spent the remainder of June and July attempting to control the wrestling element of her public image, which repeatedly received negative media attention. On June 22, McMahon's campaign gained unwanted attention
from a lawsuit filed by Martha Hart
Martha Hart
-Personal life:Hart was born Martha Joan Patterson in 1966, and is the youngest of 11 children. Her mother, Joan, had battled breast cancer before Hart and her sister Virgina were born; her father left her mother when Martha was young. Education is very important to Martha...
, the wife of deceased wrestler Owen Hart
Owen Hart
Owen James Hart was a Canadian professional and amateur wrestler who worked for several promotions including Stampede Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling , World Championship Wrestling , and most notably, the World Wrestling Federation , where he wrestled under both his own name, and ring name The...
, in regard to a wrestling DVD featuring her husband. The WWE said her lawsuit was "meritless", nothing more than a "political hit job." McMahon launched TV ads embracing her career in WWE, downplaying negative opinion of wrestling as a form of "soap opera" entertainment. In July 2010, five women from West Hartford attacked her wrestling career, saying WWE encouraged profane and violent treatment of women. The McMahon campaign dismissed their group, Mothers Opposing McMahon, as a group of Democratic operatives, arguing that their press conference was organized and paid for by the Connecticut Democratic Party. Nonetheless, McMahon's campaign continued to fend off attacks, such as the Tom Cole affair and when she pretended to kick Jim Ross
Jim Ross
James William "Jim" Ross is a professional wrestling commentator, former professional wrestling referee, restaurateur, occasional wrestler, and former company executive of WWE, where he currently works as a commentator on the WWE Raw brand...
before firing him as part of a WWE storyline.
Primary results
McMahon won the Republican nomination on August 10 with 49% of the vote. Her win received a great deal of national attention, plenty of media coverage, and congratulatory calls from national Republicans Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
and John Cornyn
John Cornyn
John Cornyn, III is the junior United States Senator for Texas, serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. He was elected Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee for the 111th U.S. Congress....
. McMahon also received calls from Schiff and Simmons offering their support. McMahon's lack of a majority was derided by critics as a sign that Republicans were not fully satisfied with her candidacy. Simmons said it was possible that Schiff was a spoiler in the campaign, siphoning off support
Vote splitting
Vote splitting is an electoral effect in which the distribution of votes among multiple similar candidates reduces the chance of winning for any of the similar candidates, and increases the chance of winning for a dissimilar candidate....
that could have helped him defeat McMahon.
General election
During the general election, McMahon campaigned in small towns and appeared with local Republicans, positioning herself as a populistPopulism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
candidate against "establishment" figure Blumenthal.
Lance Cade's death
The death at age 29 from heart failure of former WWE wrestler, Lance CadeLance Cade
Lance Kurtis McNaught was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his time in World Wrestling Entertainment where he performed under the ring names Garrison Cade and Lance Cade....
, in August 2010 renewed controversy over WWE. Cade had abused painkillers and steroids during his career in WWE. When a reporter asked her about Cade, McMahon replied the WWE had no more ability to prevent his death "than a studio could have prevented Heath Ledger
Heath Ledger
Heath Andrew Ledger was an Australian television and film actor. After performing roles in Australian television and film during the 1990s, Ledger moved to the United States in 1998 to develop his film career...
's death", and said, "who knows what causes people to have addictions and do what they do?" She also told the Connecticut Post "I may have met him once". Cade's father disputed McMahon's assertion of so distant a connection, and her remarks prompted former WWE wrestler Christopher Nowinski
Christopher Nowinski
Christopher John Nowinski is an author and a former professional wrestler with World Wrestling Entertainment. Nowinski is renowned for being WWE's first Harvard alumnus, as he graduated with an A.B. in sociology. He is also recognized as the youngest Hardcore Champion in WWE history...
to speak out against McMahon and the WWE. He alleged that the abuse of steroids and painkillers was encouraged and rewarded by the company, saying McMahon was "just kicking dirt on the guy's grave." He also related a conversation he'd had with Cade in which Cade expressed a desire to stop using steroids, but said, "the pressure is to use them, because the WWE rewards the guys who use them."
WWE quickly responded to Nowinski's accusations, saying, "It is very dubious that he ever had a conversation with Lance Cade much less Lance Cade confiding to a total stranger that he used painkillers and steroids." The company also sought to discredit Nowinski by claiming that he had failed to disclose that he'd suffered previous concussions before signing his contract with WWE, as was required. They further disputed his claims as to the number of days wrestlers worked, on average, and observed that despite Nowinski's renown in the area of CTE
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a progressive degenerative disease found in individuals who have been subjected to multiple concussions and other forms of head injury. A variant of the condition, dementia pugilistica, is primarily associated with boxing...
, a form of brain injury resulting from repeated concussions, he is not an expert in matters relating to steroids or pain killers. The charge that Nowinski was a "stranger" to Cade was refuted by Nowinski: He and Lance Cade had been tag team partners during 2002-2003, and co-workers until 2007.
Attacks on Blumenthal's credibility
In August 2010, McMahon damaged Blumenthal's credibility by publicizing an apparent flip-flopFlip-flop (politics)
A "flip-flop" , U-turn , or backflip is a sudden real or apparent change of policy or opinion by a public official, sometimes while trying to claim that both positions are consistent with each other...
he made on PAC donations. She used both TV ads and mailers to portray him as "dishonest" for accepting over $480,000 in PAC money in 2010, following $17,000 during the '80s.
In October, McMahon aired TV ads comparing Blumenthal to departing Senator Chris Dodd and the corruption of the Countrywide scandal
Countrywide financial political loan scandal
The U.S. financial political loan scandal in 2008-2009 involved politicians who allegedly received favorable mortgage rates.In June 2008 Conde Nast Portfolio reported that numerous Washington, DC politicians over recent years had received mortgage financing at noncompetitive rates at Countrywide...
. During a debate on October 7, McMahon criticized his vote as a state Senator in 1989 for a $850 million tax increase. Blumenthal fired back, referencing her memo to Pat Patterson, saying that while he was a state Senator in 1989, "she was tipping off the doctor who worked for her about a federal investigation, a criminal investigation."
Scott Brown endorsement
On October 9, Linda McMahon received the endorsement of Massachusetts U.S. Senator Scott BrownScott Brown
Scott Brown is a United States senator.Scott Brown may also refer to:-Sportsmen:*Scott Brown , American college football coach of Kentucky State...
, a Republican who had been elected to the Senate in a January 2010 special election
United States Senate special election in Massachusetts, 2010
The 2010 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts was a special election held on January 19, 2010, in order to fill the Massachusetts Class I United States Senate seat for the remainder of the term ending January 3, 2013...
to the seat long-held by Democrat Ted Kennedy
Ted Kennedy
Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy was a United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic Party. Serving almost 47 years, he was the second most senior member of the Senate when he died and is the fourth-longest-serving senator in United States history...
. The rally was held in front of Milford
Milford, Connecticut
Milford is a coastal city in southwestern New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, located between Bridgeport and New Haven. The population was 52,759 at the 2010 census...
City Hall and was attended by around 250 people. Brown had also faced a once-favored Democratic state attorney general in his bid for U.S. Senate, Martha Coakley
Martha Coakley
Martha Mary Coakley is the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Prior to serving as Attorney General, she was District Attorney of Middlesex County, Massachusetts from 1999 to 2007....
.
Political positions
McMahon campaigned on a platform of fiscal conservatismFiscal conservatism
Fiscal conservatism is a political term used to describe a fiscal policy that advocates avoiding deficit spending. Fiscal conservatives often consider reduction of overall government spending and national debt as well as ensuring balanced budget of paramount importance...
, lower taxes, and job creation. She opposed the 2009 stimulus act
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, abbreviated ARRA and commonly referred to as the Stimulus or The Recovery Act, is an economic stimulus package enacted by the 111th United States Congress in February 2009 and signed into law on February 17, 2009, by President Barack Obama.To...
, saying the money from the stimulus "went into government agencies, not the hands of small businesses that are going to create 70% of jobs." McMahon also denounced deficit spending
Deficit spending
Deficit spending is the amount by which a government, private company, or individual's spending exceeds income over a particular period of time, also called simply "deficit," or "budget deficit," the opposite of budget surplus....
, expressing support for a Constitutional balanced budget amendment
Balanced Budget Amendment
A balanced-budget amendment is a constitutional rule requiring that the state cannot spend more than its income. It requires a balance between the projected receipts and expenditures of the government....
. McMahon blamed Democrats for not reclaiming unspent money from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and the bailout package, saying the money should be used to repay government debts.
McMahon gave an interview supporting TARP in its original form, which was to purchase toxic assets in the context of a financial crisis. Nevertheless, she has been a strong opponent of the TARP program throughout the campaign, saying that the government over-stepped its authority in purchasing shares of the automobile and banking industries.
- See West Hartford interview
- See McMahon ad hands Simmons a conservative club, UPDATED Dec. 9, 2009
McMahon attacked the Federal Reserve for "micromanaging" small banks through the stimulus programs and called for an end to bank bailouts. McMahon alleged that the U.S. financial crisis could be attributed in part to the repeal of the Glass–Steagall Act in 1999, and advocated that Congress revisit the issue. She stated that small business creates most new jobs, and that government created many obstacles to economic recovery. She pushed for greater credit availability to help businesses invest.
On April 7, 2010, McMahon's campaign unveiled a jobs plan to "put Connecticut back to work." The plan was modeled on Reaganomics
Reaganomics
Reaganomics refers to the economic policies promoted by the U.S. President Ronald Reagan during the 1980s, also known as supply-side economics and called trickle-down economics, particularly by critics...
, crediting Dr. John Rutledge
John Rutledge (economist)
Dr. John Rutledge was one of the principal architects of the Ronald Reagan economic plan in 1980-81 and was an advisor to the George W...
, who wrote many of Reagan's policies in 1980-81, as Chief Economic Adviser to the McMahon campaign. Proposals in the plan included:
- lower tax rates for capital gainsCapital gains tax in the United StatesIn the United States, individuals and corporations pay income tax on the net total of all their capital gains just as they do on other sorts of income. Capital gains are generally taxed at a preferential rate in comparison to ordinary income...
and dividendDividendDividends are payments made by a corporation to its shareholder members. It is the portion of corporate profits paid out to stockholders. When a corporation earns a profit or surplus, that money can be put to two uses: it can either be re-invested in the business , or it can be distributed to...
s - abolition of the estate tax and the gift tax
- greater tax deductions to encourage savings for IRAsIndividual Retirement AccountAn individual retirement arrangement is the blanket term for a form of retirement plan that provides tax advantages for retirement savings in the United States...
and higher education - passage of pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and Korea
- government deregulation, rejecting cap and trade and card checkCard checkCard check is a method for American employees to organize into a labor union in which a majority of employees in a bargaining unit sign authorization forms, or "cards," stating they wish to be represented by the union...
legislation
McMahon supported offshore drilling
Offshore drilling
Offshore drilling refers to a mechanical process where a wellbore is drilled through the seabed. It is typically carried out in order to explore for and subsequently produce hydrocarbons which lie in rock formations beneath the seabed...
. After the BP Oil Spill, a McMahon spokesman said she desired stronger penalties for such incidents, but believed a moratorium on new drilling would devastate economies in Gulf
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
states, and make America "more dependent on foreign oil". She supported expanded drilling, naming the Outer Continental Shelf
Outer Continental Shelf
The Outer Continental Shelf is a peculiarity of the political geography of the United States and is the part of the internationally recognized continental shelf of the United States which does not fall under the jurisdictions of the individual U.S...
, ANWR, the Green River Formation
Green River Formation
The Green River Formation is an Eocene geologic formation that records the sedimentation in a group of intermountain lakes. The sediments are deposited in very fine layers, a dark layer during the growing season and a light-hue inorganic layer in winter. Each pair of layers is called a varve and...
, and the Bakken Shale Deposits
Bakken Formation
The Bakken formation, initially described by geologist J.W. Nordquist in 1953,is a rock unit from the Late Devonian to Early Mississippian age occupying about of the subsurface of the Williston Basin, underlying parts of Montana, North Dakota, and Saskatchewan...
as attractive sites for energy exploration. McMahon also supported alternative energy, including fuel-cell
Fuel cell
A fuel cell is a device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen or another oxidizing agent. Hydrogen is the most common fuel, but hydrocarbons such as natural gas and alcohols like methanol are sometimes used...
, solar, wind
Wind energy
Wind energy is the kinetic energy of air in motion; see also wind power.Total wind energy flowing through an imaginary area A during the time t is:E = ½ m v2 = ½ v 2...
and geothermal technology.
McMahon claimed to be socially moderate. She was pro-choice
Pro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
, and donated to Republican Majority for Choice
Republican Majority for Choice
The Republican Majority for Choice is a Republican organization in the United States dedicated to preserving legal access to abortion. The group also supports federal funding for all kinds of stem cell research, including Embryonic stem cell research.....
. She did not support partial birth abortions and favored parental notification laws. McMahon opposed amnesty for illegal immigrants and supported border security. She supported fixing the visa application process to encourage legal immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
. She generally supported gay rights, including the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Don't ask, don't tell
"Don't ask, don't tell" was the official United States policy on homosexuals serving in the military from December 21, 1993 to September 20, 2011. The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while...
. She personally felt that marriage should be between a man and a woman, but favored state authority on the issue of same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
. McMahon voiced displeasure with federal statutes on same-sex marriage, such as the Defense of Marriage Act
Defense of Marriage Act
The Defense of Marriage Act is a United States federal law whereby the federal government defines marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman. Under the law, no U.S. state may be required to recognize as a marriage a same-sex relationship considered a marriage in another state...
.
On foreign policy, McMahon expressed interest in joining a defense-related committee in the Senate
United States Congressional committee
A congressional committee is a legislative sub-organization in the United States Congress that handles a specific duty . Committee membership enables members to develop specialized knowledge of the matters under their jurisdiction...
. Concerning the war in Afghanistan
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
, McMahon said she was "apprehensive about the economic repercussions of a protracted war", but said "It is my hope that we bring our troops home safely as soon as possible, but we should bring them home responsibly and in victory, not defeat." During a Republican debate, she took a "hawkish" stance on Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, saying all options should be on the table, including the military one. She said that the U.S. military should be "second to none", and promised more representation to defense contractors from Connecticut, including Sikorsky
Sikorsky Aircraft
The Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation is an American aircraft manufacturer based in Stratford, Connecticut. Its parent company is United Technologies Corporation.-History:...
.
Campaign scrutiny
The McMahon campaign was criticized for providing only limited direct access to the candidate. McMahon was accompanied by political staff at all public events. She limited her press availability to scheduled one-on-one interviews, avoiding traditional press conferences and impromptu questions. Staff highly controlled her photo opportunities, Twitter postings, and public events, often not notifying the press of events in advance.McMahon did not discuss the topic of federal programs such as Social Security
Social Security (United States)
In the United States, Social Security refers to the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program.The original Social Security Act and the current version of the Act, as amended encompass several social welfare and social insurance programs...
, Medicaid
Medicaid
Medicaid is the United States health program for certain people and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments, and is managed by the states. People served by Medicaid are U.S. citizens or legal permanent...
and Medicare
Medicare (United States)
Medicare is a social insurance program administered by the United States government, providing health insurance coverage to people who are aged 65 and over; to those who are under 65 and are permanently physically disabled or who have a congenital physical disability; or to those who meet other...
in the weeks before the Republican primary, leading to accusations she was avoiding controversial issues. "She claims she wants to cut federal spending, yet refuses to discuss her position on Medicare and Social Security, two of the most costly entitlement programs."
McMahon family campaign presence
McMahon's son-in-law, WWE wrestler Triple H
Triple H
Paul Michael Levesque is an American professional wrestler, professional wrestling authority figure, WWE Executive Vice President of Talent and actor, better known by his ring name Triple H, an abbreviation of the ring name, Hunter Hearst Helmsley...
, gave an interview to the Wall Street Journal on March 12, 2010 where he said he had purposely kept an "arms length away from Linda" during her campaign to avoid giving her bad publicity. On March 14, 2010, a news story in the Stamford Advocate revealed that her husband, Vince McMahon
Vince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy "Vince" McMahon is an American professional wrestling promoter, announcer, commentator, film producer, actor and former occasional professional wrestler. McMahon is the current Chairman, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of professional wrestling promotion WWE...
, owned a 47-foot sports yacht called "the Sexy Bitch". Linda's absence from the wrestling industry was also noted on April 20, when an article by the Greenwich Times reported that she was courting voters in Westport, Connecticut
Westport, Connecticut
-Neighborhoods:* Saugatuck – around the Westport railroad station near the southwestern corner of the town – a built-up area with some restaurants, stores and offices....
while her husband was running a live wrestling event at the Mohegan Sun Arena
Mohegan Sun Arena
The Mohegan Sun Arena is a 10,000 seat multi-purpose arena in Uncasville, Connecticut located inside Mohegan Sun. The arena facility features of configurable exhibition space and a clear span...
.
Vince McMahon appeared together with Linda for the first time on April 21, 2010, at a charity function at Sacred Heart University
Sacred Heart University
Sacred Heart University is a Roman Catholic university located in suburban Fairfield, Connecticut, United States. Sacred Heart was founded in 1963 by the Most Reverend Walter W. Curtis, Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Sacred Heart University was the first Catholic university in...
. At one point during the event, he reportedly grabbed a microphone and said to Richard Blumenthal:
Vince McMahon's activities
Through October and November 2010, Vince McMahon took increasing action to support fans and the company image which he believed was being damaged by Linda's campaign. On several occasions, Connecticut Secretary of State Susan BysiewiczSusan Bysiewicz
Susan Bysiewicz served as Secretary of the State of Connecticut from 1999 to 2011. She was briefly a candidate for Governor of Connecticut in 2010, before dropping out to run for Connecticut Attorney General. She was disqualified from running for the office by the Connecticut Supreme Court and...
stated that poll workers had the right to bar voters wearing WWE merchandise to the polls, claiming they were "political items". WWE filed a federal lawsuit against Bysiewicz to prevent this. He also launched a "Stand up for WWE" campaign on the Internet and gave away company T-shirts and merchandise.
On October 30, 2010, WWE held a "Fan Appreciation Day" in Hartford, Connecticut. Vince acknowledged that the event was held to counter the negative publicity from the Senate race. During the wrestling show, McMahon distanced himself from his wife's political campaign, saying, "Some people may think I was going to talk about politics today. Nothing could be further from the truth. I do encourage you to vote this Tuesday, and while you're voting, feel free to wear a WWE T-shirt. I came out here to simply say thank you. That's what this day is all about. It's about fan appreciation. No one appreciates the fans more than World Wrestling Entertainment." The Connecticut Democrat Party filed an FEC complaint against Linda McMahon's campaign in October, claiming the WWE's "Fan Appreciation Day" was an "illegal campaign contribution". The complaint also cited the taping of "Smackdown in Bridgeport Harbor Yard" on Election Day, claiming it intended to suppress voter turnout in a Democrat-leaning community.
Speculation of 2012 candidacy
It has been speculated that McMahon will likely run as a Republican candidate in 2012 for the seat held by Joe LiebermanJoe Lieberman
Joseph Isadore "Joe" Lieberman is the senior United States Senator from Connecticut. A former member of the Democratic Party, he was the party's nominee for Vice President in the 2000 election. Currently an independent, he remains closely affiliated with the party.Born in Stamford, Connecticut,...
. During McMahon's concession speech, she gave a strong suggestion of a second campaign:
Results
External links
- Linda McMahon for Senate official website
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org