CT Senate candidates wrestle for the spotlight

Senator Chris Dodd’s decision not to run for reelection opened up a gaping hole in today’s Senate leadership, and has spurred one of the more controversial Senate races going on today. Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut’s Attorney General since 1991, is running for the seat as a Democrat. His Republican opponent is one that has never been tested in national political waters – Linda McMahon, who was until recently the President and CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment. While she has proven herself as an extremely savvy businesswoman, the voters of Connecticut have to decide on November 2 if she would be worthy of representing the state in the Senate.

Chris Dodd actually did us all a favor by not running for reelection this fall. He knew that his fate was sealed in the Senate after a series of controversies including receiving special mortgage rates through Countrywide Financial as well as large campaign donations from Freddie Mac and Freddie Mae while asserting they were financially sound, among other indiscretions. If he had not realized his faults, we all may be stuck with Linda McMahon as one of Connecticut’s senators, which along with Joe Lieberman, might have made Connecticut one of the oddest states in the country, at least in terms of its political representation.

McMahon has stated (and refuted, it’s unclear) that she would be willing to spend up to $50 million of her own funds for the campaign – she has already spent $20 million and shows no signs of slowing down. With a little less than two months left on the campaign trail, it seems likely that she could come very close to this estimate. This astounding amount of money is her own, coming from the fortune she acquired while CEO of the WWE.

President Obama campaigned for Blumenthal last Thursday in Stamford and warned voters against taking a chance on McMahon. Among questions of the effect that a sitting president can have on a candidate’s chances of being elected, it will be interesting to see which way Obama tilts the scale. Blumenthal is a skilled politician – he has been part of Connecticut state politics since 1984. Despite his Vietnam mix-up earlier this year (read about it here and the aftermath here), he has a clean record. Unfortunately in today’s Tea Party-infused political climate, somewhat predictable and uncontroversial politicians have become old news. Voters are much more likely to attach on to novelty and extremist political ideas and Blumenthal just doesn’t fit that mold. While several polls still show him leading McMahon in the polls by a good number of percentage points, voters may be enticed by this businesswoman with big ideas of change and no tax increases. But like all trends, this political one too shall pass – and we will all soon be wondering where all the good guys have gone. Blumenthal is one of those good guys, and it would be a shame to look over his potential for success in the Senate.

(Image credit: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/aug/22/mcmahon-hammers-blumenthal-honesty-conn-race/)