Alexis Levinson
The Daily Caller
9/14/2012
Connecticut is not a state traditionally thought of as an opportunity for Republicans. But in a surprising turn of events, the Senate race is turning out to be quite competitive, with TV wrestling mogul Linda McMahon running dead even with Democratic Rep. Chris Murphy.
Why and how is a Republican — and specifically McMahon, who lost a Senate race two years ago despite investing millions of dollars in a landmark year for Republicans — making such a strong showing in a state that Obama won by 22 points in 2008?
The answer is that both McMahon and her opponent have changed.
In 2010, McMahon’s campaign portrayed her as a tough-as-nails business executive, in part to compensate for her lack of lawmaking experience. But as more things came out about her business background and her time running World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) with her husband, she ended up looking “cold and heartless,” as one person associated with the campaign put it.
So this year, McMahon’s campaign followed a different strategy.
About a year before the election, McMahon started holding informal coffees with Connecticut voters — particularly women — to just chat, and let Connecticut residents get to know her on a more personal level.
“We think that she’s our greatest asset, one-to-one … people meet her and they like her,” said another person associated with the campaign…
The article continues at The Daily Caller.
Related: Anxious Murphy Sends SOS To Senate Dems For Cash to Beat McMahon
…McMahon’s aggressive campaign, and Murphy’s lack of preparedness for it, has forced Democrats into a position in which they must spend their resources in an unexpected place. Congressman John Larson (D-CT) said that Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) assured him that Murphy would have the funds needed to win the race in Connecticut.
The New York Times has now moved the Connecticut Senate seat on its map from one that is a safe Democratic seat to one that leans Democratic.
