Two local Republicans are running uphill races for US Senate in heavily Democratic states. But both deserve support.
To be sure, neither contender in Connecticut’s race will ever come close to filling the shoes of retiring Sen. Joe Lieberman. But of the two running, we endorse Linda McMahon.
Two years after losing an earlier race, McMahon is back, again spending tens of millions from her personal fortune in a largely negative race — which has made her a surprisingly strong candidate.
She understands the jobs issue, having created hundreds of them as the savvy CEO of her family business.
McMahon is running on a platform of economic conservatism coupled with socially moderate positions, unlike her conventionally liberal foe, Rep. Chris Murphy.
Murphy is so ideological that he voted against his state’s best interests, opposing a 2013 defense appropriation that includes $4.8 billion to continue producing the Virginia-class attack submarine in Groton.
He says he did so to protest open-ended funding for the war in Afghanistan — making his vote clueless on two fronts.
McMahon has a clearer understanding of Connecticut’s needs.
In New Jersey, state Sen. Joe Kyrillos’ chances of unseating Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez are daunting indeed.
But Kyrillos, like McMahon, is stressing the need to hold the line on taxes and government spending, while avoiding far-right positions on social issues. He’s also been a longtime close ally of Gov. Chris Christie.
Menendez, on the other hand, is a dependable Democrat who echoes his party down the line when it comes to spending and higher taxes.
Moreover, he’s long been dogged by troubling associations: Last spring, one of Menendez’s major fund-raisers pleaded guilty to using straw donors to make $100,000 in illegal contributions to his campaign.
Polls don’t give Kyrillos much of a chance. But he’s a solid candidate who would better represent New Jersey in Washington than the incumbent.
The Post endorses Joe Kyrillos.