WASHINGTON — Republican US Senate candidate Linda McMahon has a lot riding on today’s vote in Connecticut — at least $42 million of her own money pumped into the race.
McMahon, who spent nearly $100 million of her own money to become a senator — counting her failed 2010 campaign — hopes the investment pays off in a race that could play a role in her party’s bid for control of the Senate.
Polls have shown McMahon trailing Democrat Rep. Chris Murphy by as many as 9 points, despite her resources and name recognition — she and her husband Vince McMahon run a pro-wrestling empire.
Her opponent for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) is a three-term congressman who has spent $8.6 million on the campaign.
“A lot of mud has been slung by both McMahon and Murphy, and a lot of money has been spent by outside groups, which shows how important the race is,” said Belil Sekou, a political-science professor at the University of Hartford.
McMahon has been running as a moderate, touting her pro-choice stance while holding herself up as a defender of women’s issues.
“By every indicator, turnout will be key,” Sekou said. “Connecticut voters have a history of being willing to split their ticket on occasion, selecting Republican governors though we have a solidly Democratic state legislature and solidly Democratic congressional delegation.”
A Public Policy Polling survey within the last week has Murphy up 52 percent to 43 percent, while a Quinnipiac University poll shows the race tighter, at 49-43.