Wow. You take a few days away from blogging to focus on the job that pays and look what you miss:
1. Hearst’s drooling front page love fest on Linda McMahon
(see “McMahon’s wealth dwarfs resources of most GOP foes”).
McMahon’s money “makes her instantaneously … a formidable candidate,” said Gary L. Rose, chairman of the Department of Government and Politics at Sacred Heart University. “She has become — almost overnight — a viable challenger because of her resources.”
To be sure, wealth is an attribute shared by most of the Republican Senate contenders, including former ambassador Thomas Foley, who reports assets of at least $32.25 million, and former Rep. Rob Simmons, who reports at least $2.86 million in assets.
Stockbroker Peter Schiff, another contender, has not yet filed a disclosure report.
Another contender, Connecticut state Sen. Sam Caligiuri, reported relatively modest assets of at least $53,004.*
McMahon “has just blown right by them in terms of resources,” Rose said. “It’s just extraordinary. We’ve never had anybody that has had wealth like this campaigning” in Connecticut.
McMahon has vowed to tap her own bank accounts to fund her campaign — a pledge that means while her political opponents are out raising funds to fill campaign war chests, she can easily pay for top-notch media consultants, TV commercials and newspaper advertisements.**
That also is an attractive attribute to national Republican political leaders, who know that whenever a wealthy, self-funded candidate nabs a GOP nomination they can save the party’s money for other contests.
** Excuse my cynicism, but could this be why McMahon is getting this breathless, fangirl coverage from the same paper that couldn’t help itself from scornfully referring to Ned Lamont as a “Greenwich millionaire” in every single article?
* Clearly this number was a factor in this backroom deal. What I don’t understand is why GOP Chairman Chris Healy would muddy the waters in the 5th CD for Justin Bernier, someone whom the NRCC has identified as being “on the radar”. Look how well that strategy worked for the GOP in NY-23.
McMahon, btw, has not ruled out an independent run should she fail to win the GOP nomination. In a live chat 11/17/09 in The Day, she had the following exchange:
12:17
thedayct:
If you don’t win the Republican nomination, will you run as an independent candidate?Roger H. Gulthin
Norwalk, CT
12:18
linda: I’m focused on winning the Republican nomination and expect to win.
Nice evade. Anyone for the Connecticut for McMahon party?
All is not rosy in the dollar strewn fields of McMahon-land though. A former professional wrestler, Billy Graham, is smacking down McMahon’s attempts to whitewash her “colorful” past.
Could this become the best political slogan of the primary?
An aspiring painter, Graham said he intends to create and distribute T-shirts that depict a drawing of McMahon with a razor blade taped to her finger with dripping blood and the slogan, “Linda McMahon is a scam and is made out of spam.”
Oh no. I can’t help myself:
2. Meanwhile, the Journal Inquirer has sued the Hartford Courant for plagiarism. The JI’s lawyer Richard P. Weinstein said it best:
Historically, The Courant was highly respected and was the most important news source in the region, but coming after deep newsroom cuts, the plagiarism “is just a sad, sad comment.”
3. Chris Dodd has launched his new campaign website VP Biden will be in CT to campaign for the Senator at a lunch at the new Connecticut Science Center in Hartford on Dec 11th.
I was sorry to have missed Ghengis Conn Appreciation Night and the opportunity to celebrate Chris and to meet some of you up close and personal. Alas, it was a school night and a chauffeur’s mother’s work is never done… Connecticut Bob has a great write up and (OMG! Gasp! Shock! Horror!) a picture of ACR without a cigarette!
12 responses so far ↓
The NRCC list is notable for how many Republicans who were once in congress are fighting to win back the seats they lost. One would expect favorable election conditions for many of them in 2010. I was also struck by how young many of the “on the radar” are, many in their 30’s. Will it be enough to take back the House? Hard to say at this point if that is plausible or not as it would take a gain of 42 seats.
Arggh…excuse the messed up link above.
TORRES FOR CONGRESS…http://www.connpost.com/ci_13826021
“I am running for Congress,” Torres said in a phone interview Thursday afternoon. “All the paperwork is filed. I am officially a candidate.”
You know I don’t mind Gary Rose being a Republican shill, but has he ever come out and disclosed his affiliation.
I mean besides this quote where he says “We’ve never had anybody that has had wealth like this campaigning”–in Connecticut.
Either Gary has completely forgotten about Ned Lamont, or more likely his “we” means “we Republicans”.
Wow, political neophyte Linda McMahon isn’t as rich as I thought.
The Advocate says she’s only worth betweem $100-300 Million.
Were did I get the idea that she was a billionaire?
Bill Buckley:
If the GOP picks up 15 of the 21 seats it lost in 2008 and maintains the Senate seats it has now or gains 1 (there are 6 retiring GOP Senators) that’s enough to form a meaningful coalition with moderate Democrats to block anything but deficit and job creation related legislation in 2011. Along with the expected wins at state government that will be the momentum for 2012. The economy will take care of the rest in 2012.
Forbes listed the McMahons as billionaires ten years ago. Then a loss in the doomed XFL took them under that, according to Forbes.
GoatBoyPHD:
As much as I’d like to agree with you it’s more likely that the Obama voters who may not turn out in 2010 will be back in force by 2012. 15 or 20 seats won’t change things that much but re-taking the House would drastically improve their chances for the next Presidential race.
I’m thinking the messianic thing might play out in a state like CT in 2010 but won’t work again in Pennsylvania, the Rust Belt and the retirement states in 2012.
Wow, political neophyte Linda McMahon isn’t as rich as I thought.
The Advocate says she’s only worth betweem $100-300 Million.
Were did I get the idea that she was a billionaire?
As of March 9, 2009 (the last date available), the McMahons owned the following shares in the WWE:
Vincent McMahon owns 43.421 million shares of Class B stock
Shane McMahon owns 1.998 million shares of Class B stock
Stephanie McMahon Levesque owns 1.962 million shares of Class B stock
Linda McMahon owns 567K shares of Class B stock
Source: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1091907/000120677409000522/wwe_def14a.htm
Class B stock is the same as Class A except Class B gets 10 votes. Dividends and everything else is the same, and Class B can convert to Class A at any time.
WWE stock is trading at $16.10 per share right now. So Vince’s 43 million shares are worth about $700 million. Linda’s shares that she owns outright is around $9 million. Not sure how the others fit into the picture; I think they are her adult children. This doesn’t include any other holdings they might have, any real estate, or any debts owed.
Clearly this number was a factor in this backroom deal. What I don’t understand is why GOP Chairman Chris Healy would muddy the waters in the 5th CD for Justin Bernier, someone whom the NRCC has identified as being “on the radar”. Look how well that strategy worked for the GOP in NY-23.
NY-23 didn’t have a primary: local Republican county chairmen chose the candidate. The candidate they chose had basically no Republican credentials: she sided with the Democrats on most issues. If there is a primary (and CT could choose the candidates with those ridiculous conventions) that should settle the rift. Also, NY has a history of giving the Conservative and Liberal parties ballot access, which no other state really has. The Conservative candidate there was unfamiliar with most local issues (local bridges, military bases, etc) as well. In other words, don’t expect a big repeat of NY-23. On the Democratic side, Moveon is raising money to challenge certain incumbent Democrats, so Republicans won’t be the only ones with contested primaries.
Sarah, you were dearly missed at the event, but it was understandable. I think we might be able to do something like this over the winter, maybe a “CTLP mid-Winter Extravaganza” or something like that. Where we can eat, drink, and talk politics. Kind of like we did the other night.
Me, I love a good excuse to eat and drink. The talking bit happens whether I have an excuse or not.
You must log in to post a comment.