Linda McMahon Lays the Smackdown

All evening, the mood at McMahon’s campaign headquarters in Cromwell was upbeat. She was expected to beat former Congressman Rob Simmons and financial pundit Peter Schiff. What the crowd was really waiting for was McMahon’s victory speech. A little after 10 pm—they finally got to hear it when she entered to the 80s hit, Eye of the Tiger---a popular song from the movie Rocky 3

After quickly thanking her family and supporters, McMahon also took time to thank her  opponents—It appeared to be a call for their support as she gets ready to battle Democrat, State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal this November.

“I also tonight want to thank my opponents Rob Simmons and Peter Schiff. They ran terrific races This was a very compettive, compassionate, and heartfelt campaign. But at the end of the day, we are all part of the Republican family..the CT family.”

She then went on to explain why she started the campaign 11 months ago

“I’m alarmed by the reckless spending, massive debt and tax increases that are coming from Wasington. It’s suffocating small businesses and it’s killing our jobs”.

McMahon said the answer is smaller govt… less spending and lower taxes. She also spent time reminding them of her experience struggling to build a small business back when she and her husband started the WWE.

That story appeals to people like Jackie Jamsheed of West Hartford.

“With someone like Linda McMahon who has had a business who’s name is at the bottom of a paycheck, I feel that she understands the tradeoofs between every vote. So if you vote to raise taxes, you’ll have a trade off on the other side, there’s something that has to give.”

Jamsheed is a registered republican so she can vote in primaries but she describes herself as an independent She quick to point out she voted for Obama and has no problem voting for a Republican to be CT’s next U.S Senator.

In a question and answer session with reporters, McMahon says she’s committed to reaching out to the state’s independent voters.

“A lot of the support I’ve gotten already have been from Independents. Now they couldn’t vote in the primary but as I’ve been out walking the streets, all the folks tell me they’re independents but they support me. I’ve even had many Democrats who’ve told me they’ve been dems all their lives, never voted for a Republican and now they’re going to vote for me.”

McMahon says the campaign starts over today—as she turns her attention to running against Blumenthal. The latest Quinnipiac poll has Blumenthal leading by just 10 points

She’s expected to spend another $30 million dollars of her own money to win. She’s spent 21 million so far

And the National Republican Party is also expected to contribute time and money to help  turn a long running Democratic Senate seat into a Republican one.