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Linda McMahon
BornLinda Marie Edwards
(1948-10-04) October 4, 1948 (age 76)
New Bern, North Carolina
EducationBachelor of Arts
Alma materEast Carolina University (B.A.)
Occupation(s)co-founder of Titan Sports, Inc. Business Manager (1980-2009), President (1993-2000)
CEO (1997-2009)
EmployerWWE
Political partyRepublican
Board member ofConnecticut State Board of Education (2009-2010)
Sacred Heart University (2004-present)
SpouseVince McMahon (1966-present)
ChildrenShane McMahon
Stephanie McMahon-Levesque
Websitehttp://www.linda2010.com/

Linda Marie Edwards-McMahon (born October 4, 1948) is an American businesswoman, and a Republican candidate in the 2010 Connecticut Senate race. She is married to Vince McMahon, with whom she operated World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) from its establishment in 1980 through 2009, a role which encompassed on-screen involvement.

In September 2009, Linda McMahon stepped down from her position as CEO after a 30-year career in the wrestling industry. She is currently running for U.S. Senator for Connecticut as a Republican. Her campaign made headlines when she revealed she was willing to spend $50 million of her own money on the race.

She is campaigning on promises of fiscal conservatism, lower taxes, and job creation.

Early life, education and achievements

This biography may need cleanup. Please review the Manual of Style for biographies and help improve the article.

Linda Marie Edwards was born to Henry and Evelyn Edwards in New Bern, a city in Eastern North Carolina. She was an only child, and grew up as a "jock", with interests in basketball and baseball. Her parents were both employees at the nearby Cherry Point Air Station, a military base. Linda was raised in a traditional, conservative family, and attended Catholic mass regularly. During one mass Linda, at the age of 13, happened to meet Vince McMahon, then 16. Coincidentally, her mother worked in the same building as Vince McMahon's mother, the Cherry Point military base, although neither had met before. Vince's mother became good friends with the Edwards family, and Vince, who had lived with several abusive stepfathers, enjoyed the feeling of stability and love that he felt at the home.

Linda and Vince dated throughout their high school years. Linda attended Havelock High School and Vince attended nearby Fishburne Military School, Vince two years her senior. During this time, Vince was a "permanent fixture" at her home, spending hours with Linda and her family. Vince McMahon attended East Carolina University, studying business administration. Linda was an Honors student in high school, and had hopes of becoming a pediatrician. Shortly after her high school graduation, Vince asked her to marry him. They married on August 6, 1966, when she was 18. She enrolled at East Carolina University in 1966, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in French and gained certification to teach. From 1968-1971, Vince McMahon worked as a traveling cup salesman before joining his father's company, the World-Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). Linda McMahon graduated college in three years so she could graduate together with Vince, and in 1970 their son Shane McMahon was born.

World Wrestling Entertainment

Corporate

Main article: History of World Wrestling Entertainment

Linda McMahon co-founded Titan Sports, Inc., alongside her husband, Vince McMahon, in 1980. Many workers in the company referred to her as the “co-chief executive”. Linda McMahon’s major interest was product merchandising within the company. She negotiated many of the company’s business deals with outside vendors, establishing the company’s first line of action figures, Wrestling Superstars, in 1984. At the time, it was a first in the wrestling industry and helped expand the company’s popularity to children. She also was the primary negotiator for the Federation's TV deal with Viacom in 2000.

During an interview with the Detroit News, McMahon was asked what it was like being CEO in a "testosterone-charged industry". she replied, "It's lots of fun. I'm an only child, so I grew up as my father's son and mother's daughter. I was quite a jock. I played baseball, basketball—I think that background made Vince and I very compatible. I really have a very good understanding of the male psyche—I'm very comfortable in a guy environment. I have to say that there are very strong women in this company as well. Our human resources division and our consumer goods division are headed by women—It's still a testosterone business, and I like it."

1993-1994 steroid trial

Linda McMahon originally became President of the World Wrestling Federation as a legal maneuver. Her husband, Vince McMahon, had been indicted on charges he distributed steroids to his wrestlers. She became President to help save the company in 1993.

Main article: History of World Wrestling Entertainment § The steroid trials and subsequent years

Steroid usage was rampant in the wrestling industry during the '80s, but after passage of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act, it became an illicit substance. The Anti-Drug Abuse Act, passed in 1988, made possession and distribution of anabolic steroids a federal crime. Federal drug enforcement agencies collected evidence on the WWF beginning in 1989, using undercover informants to learn of an ongoing drug ring inside the company. The FBI and FDA arrested the WWF’s staff doctor, Dr. George Zahorian, in May 1990, after months of undercover steroid purchases from him. On May 27, 1990, they wired an informant, William Dunn, a strength trainer from North Carolina, and recorded his conversation with Zahorian during a steroid transaction worth $7,000. After Dunn made his purchase, agents arrested Zahorian and charged him with drug distribution.

Zahorian received a trial in February 1991, faced with drug charges carrying up to 40 years in jail. His trial was widely publicized because several wrestlers testified against Zahorian, admitting to making steroid purchases from him. Brian Blair, Rick Martel, Roddy Piper, and Dan Spivey testified against Zahorian, saying they had purchased steroids from him after 1988. Billy Graham, who used steroids for many years, testified to buying steroids from Zahorian and said he became sterile, had liver problems, and suffered a degenerative bone disease as a result. In Zahorian’s defense, he said he was the first-ever doctor to be charged under the Anti-Drug Abuse Act and he had no way of knowing the law had changed. He was found guilty in 1991 of 12 counts of drug distribution—8 for steroids, 4 for illegally-prescribed painkillers—and was sentenced to 3 years in jail.

As the trial was publicized in the media, the World Wrestling Federation lost the confidence of its fans. In 1991, Vince McMahon announced that the company would begin testing its wrestlers for steroids. Two wrestlers, the British Bulldog and Chris Walker, were suspended in May 1992 for violating the policy. The World Bodybuilding Federation, a bodybuilding enterprise started by Vince McMahon, was entirely shut down as a result of ongoing steroid abuse.

Vince McMahon was indicted in 1993 on steroid distribution charges. He was charged on evidence from Zahorian's case. During his trial, testimony from wrestlers and drug investigators proved that many of the WWF's top stars, including Hulk Hogan, were using steroids to enhance their physiques. Hogan admitted to using steroids during the trial, saying it had been a part of his training regimen for over 13 years, but Vince never encouraged him to use them. Because of Hogan's testimony, Vince was acquitted of all charges. The jury ruled that steroid use had been an individual choice, not a company policy.

Linda McMahon's tip-off memo

During the trial, prosecutors revealed a memo Linda McMahon wrote to the company's Vice President, Pat Patterson, in 1989. The memo directed Patterson to fire Zahorian and inform him of imminent legal charges.

"Although you and I discussed before about continuing to have Zahorian at our events as the doctor on call, I think that is now not a good idea. Vince agreed, and would like for you to call Zahorian and to tell him not to come to any more of our events and to also clue him in on any action that the Justice Department is thinking of taking.”

Dr. Zahorian stated that he received a call from Patterson about a possible criminal investigation, and after their conversation, he immediately brought all documents related to the WWF to a lawyer. Hulk Hogan, who was receiving steroids from the doctor, said he severed ties to the doctor after a conversation with Patterson.

Subsequent years; Monday Night Wars
Main article: Monday Night Wars

When Linda McMahon became company President in 1993, the World Wrestling Federation was facing strong competition from World Championship Wrestling. The competition between the two companies is popularly known as the Monday Night Wars because of a television ratings war they had on Monday nights. Between 1991 and 1994, World Championship Wrestling was stealing many high-profile wrestlers through attractive multimillion dollar contracts. She later recalled in 2007 that many wrestlers moved "primarily for the money", but suggested that WCW's lax drug policy played a role.

"...Ted Turner had...stolen a lot of our talent, or persuaded them to come over to his side of the fence...he was able to capitalize on the fact that we were going through a Federal trial, we had put into place a pretty significant drug policy which he refused to put into place so he had a lot of opportunity with some of our top stars, Hulk Hogan being one of them who went with him at that time.

Wrestlers that the company lost to WCW included Randy Savage, Hulk Hogan, Rick Rude, Ultimate Warrior, Lex Luger, and the British Bulldog, all noted steroid users. Throughout the duration of WCW, a comprehensive drug testing program was never developed. In 1996, at the height of the Monday Night Wars, the World Wrestling Federation repealed its drug testing policy.

Initial public offering (1999)

In 1999, the World Wrestling Federation was listed on the New York Stock Exchange, achieving an initial public offering (IPO) valued at $1 billion. This made it the first—and to date, the only—professional wrestling promotion to be traded in the global market. An article in Businessweek praised Linda McMahon for making the IPO possible, ranking the WWF at Number 3 of its 100 best small companies.

Following the IPO, McMahon mentioned plans to reinvest the company's earnings. Expansion efforts were started in foreign countries, television broadcasting, and integrated media. In November 1999, McMahon introduced three new Directors to the Executive Board, Lowell Weicker, David Kenin and Joe Perkins, for the purpose of expanding the company.

Federal steroids investigation (2007-2009)

Letter written by Rep. Henry Waxman to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, which said drug use was "pervasive" in both WWE and TNA
Main article: World Wrestling Entertainment § Wellness Program

Following the murder-suicide of Chris Benoit in 2007, the Oversight and Government Reform Committee began an investigation of steroid usage in the WWE. The Committee investigated WWE and TNA, asking for documentation of their company drug policies. Linda and Vince McMahon were called for testimony at Washington, DC. Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-California) sent a scathing letter to the Office of National Drug Control Policy in January 2009 stating that drug use was "pervasive" in professional wrestling. Henry Waxman left the issue unresolved when he left the Committee on January 3, 2009 to pursue a chairmanship in the United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Before he left, he sent a letter to then-drug czar John P. Walters, requesting that "ONDCP examine steroid use in professional wrestling and take appropriate steps to address this problem." Neither John Walters nor his successor, Gil Kerlikowske, ever chose to pursue the matter. Waxman's own Committee, the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, abandoned the issue after his departure.

Linda McMahon was asked why there had been no follow-up during a televised interview with CBS Face the State on January 20, 2010, saying, "There's not been any follow-up from any of the inquiries that were made because I believe we had furnished thousands of documents and testimony for them, and I think if they looked at our policy and really delved into it, they would be very satisfied."

PG rating (2008 - present)

In June 2008, WWE changed its rating from TV-14 to PG. In December 2008, at a UBS Media Conference, Linda McMahon described the new PG rating as a marketing strategy to attract a young generation of wrestling fans. She explained it as a way to create lasting loyalty to the brand, commonly called a "cradle to the grave" strategy.

In 2009 and 2010, older wrestling fans, who were long-accustomed to more realistic violence, sexual themes, and controversy, felt alienated by WWE's shows. Many of these fans joined TNA or ROH for edgier programming, or stopped watching altogether. There has been speculation that McMahon devised the PG rating change in 2008 to improve the public image of WWE for her own personal gain.

On-screen roles

Linda McMahon often referred to the creative side of the WWE as Vince's specialty, stating that she was primarily in the management team. During an interview with Fox News, she said that she often did not know what the storylines were in advance, and watched wrestling as the general public did, seeing events unfold on television.

McMahon appeared on-screen many times, most actively in 1999 to 2001. Unlike her husband and children, McMahon appears on-screen in a more neutral, rational, and selfless character. When he appeared on-screen, she often used her "power" to thwart the plans of her family or to punish a heel. However, in October 2005, she briefly turned heel to join with her "evil" family members.

1999–2001

McMahon first debuted on WWF TV during the Corporate Ministry storyline, on the May 3, 1999, episode of Raw to confront her son Shane's recent actions in the company and towards his father and sister. She soon feuded with Vince during the summer of 1999 after it emerged that Vince was the one behind daughter Stephanie's abduction.

In 2000, McMahon forced Triple H to defend the WWF Championship at WrestleMania 2000 in a "Fatal Four-Way Elimination match". She also re-instated Mick Foley (whom Triple H had forced into retirement) and acted as his manager at WrestleMania. At Backlash (April 30, 2000), she led referee Earl Hebner to ringside during a match between Triple H and The Rock, ultimately costing Triple H the WWF Championship.

In June 2000, Mick Foley returned to the WWF as Commissioner—with the blessing of McMahon. At the same time, Vince McMahon went on a hiatus, claiming that he had realized why McMahon was opposing him—she wanted another baby. Dubbing himself the "genetic jackhammer," Vince left for several months. He later returned and demanded a divorce. The following week, Vince was informed that McMahon had been rushed to the hospital after suffering a nervous breakdown. With McMahon in a sanatorium, the Board of Directors appointed Vince as CEO on December 18, allowing him to fire Foley. With McMahon apparently comatose as a result of her breakdown and the sedatives that Vince had administered to her, Vince began having a very public affair with Trish Stratus.

As a result of the affair, Shane challenged Vince to a street-fight at WrestleMania X-Seven. Vince faced Shane with Foley as special guest referee. Stephanie and Linda were at ringside, and as Stephanie actively helped Vince in the match, Linda sat in her wheelchair, completely comatose. At the end of the match, however, Linda stood up, apparently no longer sedated, and kicked Vince in the groin, allowing Shane to defeat him. A week later, Linda resumed her duties as CEO and asked Vince for a divorce. She harassed Vince over the next few months, forcing Vince's chosen champion Steve Austin to defend the WWF Championship and supporting Shane and World Championship Wrestling, which he had just purchased. Vince and Linda would reconcile, however, in October 2001 when they realized that The Alliance of WCW and ECW (purchased by Stephanie) would attempt to destroy the WWF.

2002–2004

On March 18, 2002, Linda announced the division of WWE into two brands ("Raw" and "SmackDown!") as a result of the rivalry between Vince and Ric Flair, who prior to the Invasion storyline had bought Shane's and Stephanie's shares in WWE to equal the power of Vince. On April 28, 2003, Linda confronted "Raw" General Manager Eric Bischoff after he booked Trish Stratus in a match with himself, where Stratus would be forced to sleep with Bischoff if she lost. To balance the presence of Bischoff, Linda appointed Steve Austin as the co-General Manager of Raw.

Linda accompanied her daughter Stephanie to ringside for her October 19, 2003 "I Quit" match at No Mercy. When Vince choked Stephanie with a pipe, Linda threw a towel into the ring, conceding defeat. On December 1, 2003, Linda once again re-instated Mick Foley, this time appointing him as an "Outside Consultant" to "Raw" in order to monitor Bischoff. Foley eventually resigned from his post during a heated feud with Randy Orton.

2005–2009

Linda's on-screen character turned heel for the first time on the October 10, 2005 episode of "Raw" when she "fired" commentator Jim Ross and delivered a low blow to him.

Linda did not return to WWE television until WrestleMania 22, where she was seen in a backstage promo with the rest of the McMahons, who had joined Vince in a "prayer" (where they hoped Vince would defeat Shawn Michaels).

Linda returned to "Raw" on August 13, 2007 and announced that she had kayfabe kicked Vince out of her home due to his summons for an illegitimate child. The storyline featured Vince claiming that his family was "all about the money". On the taped episode of Raw that aired on September 3, 2007, Linda returned with Stephanie and Shane to confront Vince on Raw. On August 24, 2009, she appeared in front of a live crowd after RAW went off air to celebrate Vince's 64th birthday.

Company Legacy

Deregulation efforts

Linda McMahon was directly involved in the lobbying efforts of the World Wrestling Federation to deregulate the wrestling industry in New Jersey. In 1989, State Senator Francis McManimon introduced a deregulation bill after being lobbied by the WWF. The bill removed the restrictions placed by the state's Athletic Control Board, which were more strict than those in neighboring states. Governor Christine Todd Whitman, of New Jersey, signed a bipartisan bill into law on March 18, 1997 that deregulated professional wrestling. The bill recognized professional wrestling as a form of entertainment, not a sport, removing it from the State Athletic Control Board's regulations. The deregulation law removed a $100,000 media tax for staging televised events and eliminated the needs for physical examinations of wrestlers before events.

"Independent contractors" policy

During Linda's 30-year involvement with the company, World Wrestling Entertainment classified its wrestlers as "independent contractors" rather than "employees." The classification difference spared the company from providing health insurance and workers' entitlement programs. Linda McMahon, as CEO and co-founder, had been a supporter of the policy.

Connecticut tax incentives

Under McMahon's tenure, WWE became one of the largest recipients of special tax credits for film and TV production granted by the State of Connecticut.

Charitable Work

Get R.E.A.L.

Linda McMahon launched the company's GET REAL program to deliver positive messages about education to young adults. The program encourages literacy through Public Service Announcements, posters, and bookmarks featuring wrestling superstars. Since 2006, thousands of posters featuring WWE superstars have been distributed to libraries and reading facilities each year.

SmackDown! Your Vote campaign (2000)

Linda McMahon initiated World Wrestling Entertainment's non-partisan voter-registration campaign, "SmackDown! Your Vote", in August 2000. The campaign specifically targeted the 18-to-30 year-old voter demographic, making use of online marketing, public service announcements, and youth voting partnerships. The campaign, which registered 150,000 new voters during the 2000 election, was started in coalition with MTV's Choose or Lose, Project Vote Smart, and Youth Vote 2000. As of the 2008 election, it listed fourteen different partners in its voter registration efforts. During the 2008 Presidential election, Smackdown your Vote! registered many voters online, often in affiliation with Rock The Vote. This has been criticized as disproportionately helping Barack Obama.

Achievements

McMahon became a member of the Board of Trustees of Sacred Heart University (Fairfield, Connecticut) in November 2004. She supports many organizations, including the USO, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, the Starlight Foundation, and Community Mayors. In 2005, she won appointment to The Make-A-Wish Foundation of America National Advisory Council and received the Arthur M. Sackler Award from the Connecticut Grand Opera and Orchestra for WWE's support of its arts education program. McMahon is also responsible for the creation of WWE's Get R.E.A.L. educational and literacy programs and WWE's SmackDown! Your Vote! campaign.

On January 29, 2007, Multichannel News named McMahon to its class of "Wonder Women" for 2007. The award recognized her outstanding contributions to the cable and telecommunications industries. In May 2007, she appeared as the keynote speaker at the Girl Scout Council of Southwestern Connecticut’s Women of Achievement Leadership Breakfast. As a former Girl Scout herself, she encouraged all Girl Scouts to improve their communities.

Under her leadership, the WWE was the recipient of the USO of Metropolitan Washington's first ever “Legacy of Hope” award for its extensive support of our troops and the USO's Operation Care Package program. In 2007, the company received the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Public Service Award for its support of deployed service members in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2008, the company received the GI Film Festival's Corporate Patriot Award.

Political career

Connecticut Board of Education

Linda McMahon was appointed to the state Board of Education by Governor Jodi Rell in January 2009. Many political observers questioned the choice of Linda McMahon, especially because of her lack of political experience. Linda went through a confirmation process in the Connecticut State Assembly, where she was questioned on her record as CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment. She said that education had always been a passion of hers, but her marriage to Vince McMahon "changed the course of her life and professional career". She mentioned youth-oriented programs she started as CEO, including the GET R.E.A.L. Program and Smackdown! Your Vote; she stated: "I am proud that as WWE has grown, we have been able to undertake programs to encourage young people to read, be productive members of their community, support our men and women in the community, and vote in greater numbers."

The State Senate nominated her by a vote of 34-1 and the House by 96-45, after some protest from those who opposed her involvement in professional wrestling's "racy, sexual, violent content.

In April, 2010 it was announced that McMahon had resigned from the State Board of Education, as their policies didn't allow her to perform certain political campaign activities.

2010 U.S. Senate campaign

Main article: United States Senate election in Connecticut, 2010
It has been suggested that this article be merged into United States Senate election in Connecticut, 2010. (Discuss) Proposed since May 2010.
Linda McMahon for Senate 2010
File:Linda2010banner.JPG
CampaignUnited States Senate election in Connecticut, 2010
CandidateLinda McMahon
AffiliationRepublican Party
StatusCurrent
HeadquartersWest Hartford, Connecticut
Key peopleEd Patru (spokesman)
ReceiptsUS$14.6 (2010-05-01)
SloganA businesswoman, not a politician, for Connecticut
Website
http://www.linda2010.com

In August 2009, a spokesperson for the WWE stated that McMahon had considered running as a Republican candidate in the 2010 Connecticut Senate race for the seat then held by Democrat Christopher Dodd. Linda McMahon announced her candidacy on the morning of September 16, 2009. Her husband was to assume her duties as CEO effective immediately. Wrestling fans and political observers initially were incredulous, some thinking the announcement was an on-screen publicity stunt". As McMahon began airing television and radio advertisements touting her business credentials, it became clear that the campaign was a serious effort.

In September, when McMahon started her campaign, the field of Republican primary candidates were encouraged by news of slumping approval ratings for Christopher Dodd. Many had made attacks directly on Dodd, seizing popular sentiment against his "insider status" and "fiscal irresponsibility". Connecticut voters stated that the economy and healthcare were their most pressing issues. Polls showed Rob Simmons as a clear favorite in the Republican field with a 30-40 point lead over all other candidates.

Republican primary

McMahon opened her campaign with a media blitz, spending large sums of money. She ran advertisements on network television across Connecticut, including Fairfield County, which is part of the New York City media market. She launched statewide radio ads, full-page ads in local newspapers, mailing brochures, and posted Web ads targeting Connecticut voters. McMahon also hired high-profile campaign staff. Her campaign spokesman, Ed Patru, had worked on John McCain's 2000 presidential campaign. Her campaign manager, former State Senator David Cappiello, receives a salary of roughly $280,000.

McMahon ran as an "outsider candidate", criticizing the Senate for its connection to Wall Street and federal banking bailouts. Her campaign ads emphasized her distance from politics, stressing she was "not a career politician". She criticized the current Senate for passing large bills in a perfunctory manner, particularly the $800 billion stimulus package. Her first televised political ad, "Perseverance", touted her experience as a business leader, stating, "Thirty years ago, my husband and I started our business. It wasn’t always easy but we grew it into a publicly traded company that’s creating jobs here in Connecticut today." The advertisement, which made only quick mention of her husband, and did not include the name of her company, was parodied on YouTube with footage of Linda in on-screen wrestling activities.

On October 23, 2009, Linda aired a new campaign ad, entitled "Pat on the Back", which criticized Christopher Dodd for colluding with President Obama during passage of the 2008 stimulus package. The advertisement's air date coincided with a day of visit from Obama to the Dodd campaign team. The Journal-Inquirer, however, pointed out that while McMahon's TV ads complained about corporate bailouts, the WWE had received tax credits from the State of Connecticut The Rob Simmons campaign claimed it was hypocritical, stating, "This Halloween, Mrs. McMahon may be masquerading as an opponent of government bailouts and stimulus packages for everyone else, but she is happy to take taxpayer dollars for her own personal benefit." In response to her Republican rival Rob Simmons and members of the Connecticut Democratic Party who called her a "hypocrite" for accepting the tax credits, she replied during a November 17, 2009 interview with The Day, "Tax credits are not bailouts, and anyone who doesn’t understand the difference doesn’t belong in Washington."

YouTube incident

In October 2009, Democratic political operatives targeted YouTube videos of WWE to use in political ads. On October 16, Colleen Flanagan, a spokeswoman for Chris Dodd, posted controversial videos that showed the unsavory side of WWE on Talking Points Memo, a political news website. She said the programming showed “simulated rape, public sex and necrophilia” and McMahon should not be Senator because she “condones this type of behavior”. Hours later, YouTube removed the videos after contact from WWE. WWE had informed YouTube of copyrights associated with the footage, and told YouTube that they were violating laws by posting it.

The Connecticut Democratic Party filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission asking for an investigation into what happened with the controversial videos. They argued that the WWE gave McMahon an unfair corporate contribution by removing the videos. The complaint claimed that of the “almost 500,000” videos of WWE on YouTube, the three were removed selectively to help McMahon’s campaign.

Outsider candidate in Republican Party

In October 2009, McMahon faced fierce competition from Sam Caligiuri and Rob Simmons, two established politicians, who challenged her commitment to the Republican Party. Simmons and Caligiuri pointed out that she did not vote in several elections and donated generously to Democrats during her years as a CEO.

Her political donations were sharply criticized, even though they were usually to candidates who were right-of-center ideologically. Her campaign contributions included donations to Republicans and DLC-affiliated Democrats, including Sen. Joe Lieberman in 2006 and Rahm Emanuel from the period of 2002 to 2008. Since 1980, McMahon contributed twice as much to Republicans than to Democrats— ($70,700 to Republicans, $35,100 to Democrats, and $1,000 to independents). Ironically, Linda McMahon donated $10,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee on September 26, 2006, a contribution that helped Joe Courtney weeks before his win against Rob Simmons for the Second Congressional District. McMahon also donated to the Republican Majority for Choice in 2006, a political action committee favoring abortion and the "Big Tent" appeal of the GOP. This record has led conservative activists to label McMahon a RINO.

McMahon's donations to Rahm Emanuel's Political Action Committee was especially unpopular among Republican voters; Emanuel is vilified because he organized the Democratic shift in the House in 2006 and masterminded Barack Obama's presidential win. Voters asked her about her donations to Emanuel, and she replied that they were not politically-motivated. She said she was a personal friend of Rahm's brother, Ari Emanuel, who had represented WWE's Hollywood presence since 1992. According to McMahon, in 2002, "He (Ari) called me one day and he said, my brother is running for Congress in Illinois. It happened to be Rahm. I didn't know Rahm." McMahon made more donations over the course of the next several years, including one check she wrote when Rahm Emanuel came to WWE headquarters to meet her. McMahon's spokesperson clarified that McMahon didn't know who Rahm Emanuel was in '02, but was aware of his status in '06.

An article in The New London Day on October 11 predicted that McMahon's strong finances and on-screen advertising may not be enough to sway Republican voters:

...The McMahon campaign needs to take down the advertising "air power" and hit the dusty trail of the state's 169 towns if it expects to have a chance with Republican voters.

The New London Day also raised the possibility that McMahon would take a third party run for the Senate. It noted that WWE Board member Lowell Weicker had taken a similar path to the Connecticut governorship in 1990. Repeatedly, McMahon denied a possible Independent campaign during interviews.

Wrestling is put into the spotlight

In November 2009, former wrestler Billy Graham became an outspoken critic of McMahon's campaign.

He said the McMahons were hypocrites for "toning down" the violence and sexuality in pro wrestling after many years of showing adult themes. He launched Internet videos on WrestleView saying the WWE's switch to PG was politically motivated: "...they (Linda and Vince) are doing it strictly to get Linda McMahon elected to Senator of Connecticut", he stated in one video. Billy Graham contracted Hepatitis C from another wrestler's blood during his time in WWE and required a life-saving liver transplant as a result. When speaking about Linda, he said:

"She may look like a Sunday school teacher. Linda McMahon's hands are as bloody as her husband's because she is aware of every move in the ring. She has had no problem with grown men - myself included - cutting their head with a razor blade. All of a sudden, why aren't these guys bleeding anymore? Because Linda is running for the Senate."

Graham told reporters that he was furious about having no pension and no health care after his wrestling career with WWE.

Linda's campaign responded directly to the accusations by Billy Graham, saying he was a "self-confessed liar". On November 12, The campaign sent a letter directly to WrestleView, where Billy Graham had posted Internet videos, attacking his credibility. The campaign circulated an apology letter Graham wrote to the company in 1996, saying "he has a habit of making false statements when he's not on WWE's payroll". In the letter, Graham had admitted to making unjustified verbal attacks in the past following his termination in 1989.

McMahon-Simmons rivalry

Linda and Rob intensified the negative attacks toward each other in November 2009, leading to a rivalry some sources described as “pugilistic” and "acrimonious". In particular, Linda McMahon made in-roads into the conservative voter bloc after portraying Rob Simmons as a fraud to the Tea Party movement. Rob Simmons had courted Tea Party conservatives during his campaign, carrying a tea bag in his pocket during political events beginning in October. Simmons touted himself as the Tea Party candidate, and proudly defended the Tea Party movement during interviews. In December, a Washington Times article suggested that Simmons' appeals to conservatives were insincere, pointing to his past support for "cap and trade" and "card check", two hot button issues for Tea Partiers. Linda McMahon's campaign seized this apparent flip-flop, sending mailings to Connecticut voters highlighting this issue. This hurt Simmons' standing among conservatives and labor unions.

Afterwards, the Simmons' campaign focused many, if not all, of its advertisements on Linda McMahon and WWE in a negative light. In January 2010, after learning of Linda's donations to local Republican candidates, Simmons said she was trying to "buy the election". In the week after Rahm Emanuel made an inappropriate remark with the word "retarded", Simmons circulated YouTube videos of Eugene, a mentally-challenged wrestler. He claimed that Linda McMahon and WWE were insensitive to the mentally-challenged, and in the YouTube videos he chose Eugene was being humiliated in the ring. Linda's spokesman said the videos were "taken out of context and don't tell the whole soap opera story line."

Simmons' campaign launched many negative ads portraying Linda McMahon and the WWE in a negative light, particularly over steroid abuse, premature wrestler deaths, and controversial wrestling storylines. The negative campaigning had become so prevalent in Simmons' campaign that Norwalk mayor Richard Moccia decided to endorse McMahon.

January 2010: Dodd steps down

Hours after Chris Dodd announced his retirement, news media circuits began to take strong interest in the Connecticut Senate race. The Connecticut Democratic Party held a press conference on January 7, the same day Dodd announced his retirement, to introduce Richard Blumenthal, the Attorney General of Connecticut, as a new Democratic candidate. During the conference, Democratic Party chairwoman Nancy DiNardo was elated to introduce Blumenthal, calling him "our future Senator". Blumenthal spoke to the press, promising to run using "grass-roots tactics"; when he was questioned about Linda McMahon's strong campaign finances, he deflected the questions.

Rasmussen polling showed Linda McMahon trailed Blumenthal 60-to-34% following his announcement. There was speculation on whether Linda would drop out of the race, as Blumenthal had an approval rating of over 80% and near-unanimous support among Democrats. During a Today Show appearance, During a Today Show interview, Linda admitted that the race against Blumenthal would be more challenging, but said she would continue her campaign as she had before as a Washington outsider.

Following Scott Brown's upset victory in Massachusetts, Republicans celebrated the win as a turning point in national politics. Many considered the win to be a good sign for Republicans in other Northeast states. On January 21, both Rob Simmons and Linda McMahon praised Brown, seeking to gain support among Republicans nationally as the next "Scott Brown Republican". Simmons hailed Brown at length for winning the 41st Republican seat, asking for $41 donations in recognition of this accomplishment. Linda McMahon answered this with a negative press release. In it, she argued that Simmons had a fiscally liberal record as U.S. Representative, pointing out his D-rating from the National Taxpayers Union.

McMahon takes the lead

On March 17, 2010, Linda McMahon was declared the frontrunner in the Republican primary after winning a Quinnipiac University poll. In the poll, she received 44% of likely Republican votes, beating her nearest rival, Rob Simmons, by ten points. Her rise in the polls was attributed in large part to her heavy media presence. A polling director stated, "You can't miss her television ads. They're everywhere. She's the only candidate for Senate that's on TV right now." Political research revealed that Linda had gained strong popularity with female voters, social conservatives, and residents in Fairfield County.

1989 tip-off memo controversy

Articles published April 9, 2010 in both The New London Day and Politico.com resurfaced Linda McMahon's memo to Pat Patterson in 1989, raising questions of her connection to Dr. George Zahorian's damaging steroid trial. Her memo asked Patterson to have Zahorian fired and “clued in” to possible legal action from the Federal government. At the time of her memo, Dec. 1, 1989, the Federal investigation was still highly-classified. In fact, the FBI continued to make undercover purchases from Zahorian until May 27, 1990.

A WWE spokesman, Robert Zimmerman, responded to the articles, telling reporters that Linda had done no wrongdoing. Zimmerman explained that the doctor was “clued in” so he would understand the reason why he was dismissed. He said Linda learned of the investigation from Jack Krill, a company lawyer for Titan Sports, Inc. Jack Krill, in turn, learned of the investigation directly from James West, the Federal prosecutor who was in charge of the case. According to the story, Jack Krill overheard West carelessly talking about the case at a social fundraising event.

James West told the press on April 11 that the story relayed by the WWE and Jack Krill were lies. He said he never divulged any information related to his investigation and denied attending the fundraising event. West said Linda could not have learned about the investigation at the time of the memo, but may have learned about it prior to Zahorian’s arrest through her wrestlers. West said the only way Linda could have learned about the investigation was through wrestlers who received subpoenas to arrive at Federal court to answer questions related to their Fed-Ex activity with Zahorian.

The news damaged McMahon's public image and hurt her campaign. The Norwich Bulletin said the memo and its implications raised a question of character, saying McMahon "owes" the public "a better explanation." Her Republican rival, Rob Simmons, said the memo was a evidence she “engaged in a cover-up to undermine a criminal investigation.”

University of Connecticut registration drive

An article published in the Stamford Advocate raised attention to McMahon's voter registration drive at the University of Connecticut, where college students would be paid a $5 bonus for each voter they registered as a Republican. The potential moral hazards that could arise in such a program raised negative connotations to ACORN's 2008 controversy regarding invalid voter applications. Although the practice was not illegal, the bonus structure was removed from the drive.

McMahon retains lead over Simmons

McMahon continued to outspend her opponents and remained the Republican frontrunner heading into the convention. The Simmons campaign could not fund TV ads and failed to gain significant traction in the final few weeks. On April 24, Rob Simmons held a meeting with the editors of The New London Day saying Linda's finances were corrupting the political process: "If McMahon, with no political experience, who often did not bother to vote, whose company spread money to Democrats as well as Republicans, can defeat a former congressman, defense intelligence expert, party loyalist, and bronze star military veteran, then it's all about the checkbook and nothing else."

In the last few weeks before the convention, the viability of her chief rival, Rob Simmons, was in doubt by the media and GOP circles. Nonetheless, three weeks from the convention, the Simmons campaign projected optimism, stating, "we have more endorsements than she does by a wide margin."

Focus on Blumenthal; New York Times Vietnam story
Main article: Richard Blumenthal § New York Times Vietnam Story

Linda McMahon focused her attention towards Richard Blumenthal, the presumptive Democratic challenger in the few weeks before the convention. On May 12, she launched political TV ads on Blumenthal's apparent flip-flop on PAC contributions. On May 17, a New York Times story revealed that Blumenthal had exaggerated and made false claims about his military service during Vietnam. Hours later, a McMahon supporter, Kevin Rennie, wrote a piece on his blog, saying the story was uncovered by the McMahon campaign. The McMahon campaign apparently had discovered Blumenthal's Vietnam record through two months of "deep, persistent research". The McMahon campaign posted the blog post by Rennie on its webpage on May 17, giving it responsibility for the story, but removed it on May 18. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which supported Blumenthal politically and financially, was livid that the McMahon campaign was responsible.

On May 19, Linda McMahon told reporters she was responsible for research leading to the New York Times story. Linda's campaign also posted a fuller version of a speech Blumenthal made on YouTube, one that showed Blumenthal clearly explaining his "Vietnam era" service early in his speech. The full video softens the blow dealt by his later "in Vietnam" gaffe shown later in the clip. Blumenthal's campaign widely circulated the fuller video on the Internet to improve his image.

Republican nominating convention (May 2010)

Linda McMahon, Peter Schiff, and Rob Simmons competed for the Republican nomination at the party's convention on May 21, 2010. The convention was restricted to 1,635 delegates from Connecticut, with the candidate who won the majority of delegate votes having the top slot with "endorsed by the state party" next to his or her name in the August primary. The Republican Primary will be in August 2010, open to Republican voters in Connecticut. Beginning in January, Linda's campaign sent mail to Connecticut residents urging them to register for the primary, suggesting that Linda would run in the Republican primary even if she had not won the Republican nomination.

Her chief rival, Rob Simmons, explicitly said he would not "force a primary" if he does not win at the convention. His "all-or-nothing" strategy looked bleak after reports of a drop in fundraising. Political pundits began rumors that he was under pressure to drop out and run for his former Congressional seat, a rumor Simmons was asked about during an interview on February 1. During the interview, he did not "rule out" the possibility, and Simmons was visibly frustrated by the negative media publicity he received as a result. Peter Schiff has indicated that he will run in the Primary regardless of the results of the Republican Convention.

At the convention, McMahon won with 737 delegates pledging their support, while Simmons came in second with 632. Seven hundred and eight delegates were required to attain party endorsement. Despite his statements to the contrary throughout the campaign, Simmons initially stated after the convention that he would force a primary with McMahon. However, days later (May 25) Simmons reversed himself yet again, and announced that he was suspending his campaign, saying he could not compete financially with McMahon's deep pockets.

Public image

Voting record controversy

McMahon admitted she did not vote in the 2006 Connecticut general election, saying she decided not to after it became clear that John McCain was the presumptive Presidential nominee. Because of faulty record-keeping at the Republican Registrar of votes in Greenwich, it was originally thought that she had only voted in 2000 and 2008. The claim—which had been published in the Associated Press—was debunked in January 2010 when the Republican Registrar of votes in Greenwich admitted it had poor records, and had recently conducted a new search query. According to its investigation, she voted in the 2000, 2002, 2004, 2008, and 2009 elections.

Reception of McMahon by wrestling community

Linda's political campaign has been received both positively and negatively by former wrestlers. Several former wrestlers have spoken out against Linda McMahon's candidacy, disgruntled about the lack of healthcare they received when employed by WWE. Her most outspoken critic, "Superstar" Billy Graham, has personally campaigned for Linda's Republican opponent, Rob Simmons. Bruno Sammartino, Chyna, Larry Zbyszko, and the Blue Meanie have similarly expressed negative sentiment towards McMahon. On January 15, former wrestler Hulk Hogan lauded Linda McMahon as a candidate for the Senate, saying, "She's brilliant. She's a very gracious, very smart lady, and her intent and her agenda has always been to help the community." Former WWE wrestler Jesse Ventura said he would vote for Linda McMahon if she was running as an Independent. Michael Benoit, the father of WWE wrestler Chris Benoit, wrote a letter to the Hartford Courant urging Connecticut voters to oppose Linda, pointing to premature wrestler deaths that occurred in the company. His son, Chris Benoit, died in 2007 in an infamous murder-suicide that sparked great controversy in the wrestling industry.

Political positions

Linda McMahon opposes the Obama administration's economic policy. She said the stimulus act of 2009 was misguided, saying the money from the stimulus "went into government agencies, not the hands of small businesses that are going to create 70% of jobs." Linda blamed Democrats for not reclaiming unspent money from TARP and the Bailout package, saying the money should be used to repay government debts. Linda has also denounced deficit spending, particularly by the Obama administration, and has expressed support for a Constitutional balanced budget amendment. She also charges the Executive Branch of evading the system of checks and balances through the use of "policy czars" and Executive Orders.

McMahon accuses The Federal Reserve of "micromanaging" small banks through the stimulus programs and calls for an end to bank bailout practices. McMahon believes that the U.S. Financial collapse could be attributed in part to the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act in 1999, and has asked that Congress revisit the issue. She has stated many times that small businesses are responsible for job creation, and believes the government is creating obstacles to an economic recovery. She advocates for a greater availability of credit so businesses can gain investment capital.

On April 7, McMahon's campaign unveiled a Jobs Plan to "put Connecticut back to work." The Plan was modeled closely to Reaganomics, crediting Dr. John Rutledge, who wrote many of Reagan's policies in 1980-81, as a Chief Economic Adviser to the McMahon campaign. Proposals in the plan include:

  • tax reductions on capital gains and dividends
  • an abolition of the estate tax and the gift tax
  • greater tax deductions to encourage savings for IRAs and higher education
  • passage of pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and Korea
  • government deregulation, rejecting cap and trade and card check legislation

The Plan aggressively supports offshore drilling, naming the Outer Continental Shelf, ANWR, the Green River Formation, and the Bakken Shale Deposits as attractive sites for energy exploration. McMahon has given her support for fuel-cell, solar, wind and geothermal technology.

McMahon considers herself socially moderate. She is pro-choice, and has donated to a pro-choice Republican Political Action Committee. She does not support partial birth abortions and favors parental notification laws. McMahon is opposed to amnesty for illegal immigrants and supports border security. She also supports fixing the visa application process to encourage legal immigration.

On foreign policy, McMahon is generally neo-conservative. McMahon has expressed support for Barack Obama's strategy in Afghanistan, saying though she was "apprehensive about the War's economic repercussions", his troop increases were justified because of "the risks inherent in allowing Afghanistan to become a safe haven for the Taliban and a launching pad for additional al-Qaeda attacks." During a Republican debate, she made a “hawkish” stance on Iran, saying all options should be on the table, including the military one.

Personal life

McMahon and her husband Vince have two children  — Shane McMahon and WWE executive Stephanie McMahon-Levesque.

McMahon family presence on campaign

Linda's husband, Vince McMahon had long been absent on the campaign trail, raising suspicions that Linda was purposely distancing him from her political campaign. In February 2010, Linda said Vince was too busy "running the company" as both Chairman and CEO to campaign with her, but said he may be involved “later down the road”. Several speculators predicted that if he campaigned with her, his direct association with controversial wrestling skits would be a “major liability” for the campaign.

Her son-in-law, WWE wrestler Triple H, gave an interview to the Wall Street Journal on March 12, 2010 where he said he has purposely kept an "arms length away from Linda" during her campaign to avoid giving her bad publicity. On March 14, 2010, a news story in The Stamford Advocate revealed that her husband, Vince McMahon, owns a 47-foot sports yacht called "the Sexy Bitch", hurting her public image. Linda's absence from the wrestling industry was also noted on April 20, when an article by the Greenwich Times reported that she was courting voters in Westport, Connecticut while her husband was running a live wrestling event at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

Vince appeared together with Linda for the first time on April 21, 2010 at a charity function at Sacred Heart University. Vince McMahon, at one point during the event, reportedly grabbed a microphone and said to Richard Blumenthal, her Democratic rival: "My name is Vince McMahon and my wife is the one who's going to beat you this fall".

Notes

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  143. McMahon warned doctor of probe
  144. Memo: McMahon tipped steroid doctor
  145. ^ Memo raises questions about role in 1989 case
  146. ^ Ex-prosecutor says McMahon camp wrong on WWF warning
  147. Sex, Lies, and Headlocks. p. 92
  148. http://www.norwichbulletin.com/Opinion/x57953354/Our-view-McMahon-owes-state-an-explanation
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  152. McMahon under fire for voter 'bounties'
  153. Linda McMahon Withdraws Bonus Offer For Voter Registration
  154. McMahon Campaign Cancels Money-For-GOP Registrations Voter Drive
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  158. Rob Simmons - 14 days til convention and the momentum is growing!
  159. McMahon ad targets Blumenthal in Conn. Senate race
  160. McMahon Strikes. Turns Blumenthal into Bruce Caputo.
  161. ^ McMahon campaign says they ‘fed’ Blumenthal story to New York Times, then backs away from claim
  162. McMahon Confirms Campaign's Role In N.Y. Times Story On Blumenthal
  163. ^
  164. Video mitigates Blumenthal remarks
  165. Blumenthal and Vietnam, the Director's cut
  166. Blumenthal Counters With Longer Version Of Video
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  175. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/37633.html
  176. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/26/nyregion/26simmons.html
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  178. (2009-09-24)"McMahon Acknowledges Spotty Voting Record." CongressDaily. p. 20. Retrieved 2010-01-25.
  179. Summers, April. (2009-09-23)Linda McMahon: "I didn't vote, I regret it, I apologize, and I don't make any excuses for it" KocoSports. Accessed 2010-03-28
  180. Haigh, Susan. (2009-09-23) "Ex-wrestling CEO running for Senate missed voting." Associated Press Online. Retrieved 2010-01-25.
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  182. Lovley, Erika. (2009-12-07). ""Wrestlers lob past at McMahon."". Politico.com. Retrieved 2010-01-25.
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  187. ^ Jobs Plan PDF
  188. "Fiscal Discipline - Linda McMahon for Senate". Retrieved 2010-03-08.
  189. ^
  190. Linda McMahon Releases Jobs Plan
  191. http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/GOP-Senate-candidates-spar-in-debate-388520.php
  192. Vigdor, Neil. (2010-03-26) Paging Vince McMahon: Flamboyant WWE showman keeps a low profile during wife's Senate run Stamford Advocate. Accessed 2010-03-29
  193. Kate Snow, David Muir. ABC News Transcript. (2010-01-09) "Senate Smackdown: Former Female CEO Running for Office." Televised on ABC World News Saturday. Waterbury, Connecticut. Retrieved 2010-02-06.
  194. Will WWE Chair Vince McMahon Hurt Linda's Senate Hopes?
  195. The running of the rich: Is wealth changing Connecticut politics?
  196. Wrestlezone article - Vince McMahon earns Linda McMahon some bad press
  197. Collins, David. (2010-03-19) Linda McMahon's yacht is named what?! The Day Accessed 2010-03-19.
  198. Originally in Sunday's paper: 'SmackDown' comes to Connecticut as Linda McMahon keeps a distance
  199. http://blogs.courant.com/capitol_watch/2010/04/vince-mcmahon-to-dick-blumenth.html
  200. http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/wwe/7526.html

References

  • Assael, Shaun (2004). Sex, Lies, and Headlocks: The Real Story of Vince McMahon and World Wrestling Entertainment. Three Rivers Press. ISBN 1400051436. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • Kaelberer, Angie (2003). The McMahons: Vince McMahon and Family. Capstone High Interest Books. ISBN 0736821430.

External links

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