Linda McMahon U.S. Senate campaign, 2010
| Linda McMahon for Senate 2010 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Campaign | U.S. Senator from Connecticut |
| Candidate | Linda McMahon |
| Affiliation | Republican Party |
| Status | Lost |
| Headquarters | West Hartford, Connecticut |
| Key people | Ed Patru (spokesman) |
| Receipts | US$50,285,122 |
| Slogan | A businesswoman, not a politician, for Connecticut |
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 10 primary, but lost the general election to Richard Blumenthal, then Attorney General of Connecticut, her Democratic opponent.
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 Dodd. 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.
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