The McMahon Effect

In the recent weeks, a new Linda has reemerged in Connecticut politics-or perhaps a new image of the same candidate. Rewind back to 2010. Linda McMahon was, arguably, in the worst political position a candidate could be in. Democrats and Republicans alike shared the anti-Linda sentiment. They all had a bad after taste of air waves being bombarded with Linda ads, and mailboxes being stuffed with Linda mailers. She was panted as a rogue businesswoman, abandoning her moral conduct in an attempt to grow her company. On and on go the attacks made against Linda McMahon, but with her second race only 50 days away, none of those attacks seem to matter anymore. The people of Connecticut are moving away from the shallow attacks made against McMahon, and starting to embrace her in a magnitude that has gained unprecedented national attention.                                                                                                          The McMahon campaign strategy team deserves much of the credit for this change in heart from voters. Unwilling to let the Murphy team set the direction of the campaigns; they rolled up their sleeves and dug dirt on a once dubbed ‘the ideal candidate for the US Senate’.  What they have found, and more importantly how they have delivered that information has put their Republican ahead in the polls in a Blue state. Registered Republicans make up only 20% of the total electorate in Connecticut, yet McMahon has been able to accrue a three point lead over Murphy, according to a recent independent poll. National Republican Party operatives are now looking at Connecticut as a part of their path to reclaim the Senate majority. McMahon’s campaign may also be having an impact on the Presidential election, as recent polls show Romney closing the gap on Obama in the Nutmeg state.                                                     

  In two short years, McMahon has gone from a new face to state politics to potentially the strongest and most politically powerful candidate in the state today. Her fame and favorability is not centered on her alone; it is inadvertently being spread to other local and national races. It is no surprise that many candidates throughout Connecticut are using their McMahon ties and affiliations to help their own campaigns. It would behoove other republican candidates in the state to jump on the Linda bandwagon before it becomes too late.  With Linda on the top of the ticket in November, we are most certain to see a Republican miracle in Democratic Connecticut.