Smack Down: Connecticut US Senate race a dead heat UPDATE: Let’s get ready to rumble

Gulp! She’s got him in a hammer lock. He’s down. There’s one shoulder on the mat. Ooooooooooh, the Attorney General is looking for someone to tag. Linda McMahon continues to prove the experts (other than moi) wrong, wrong, wrong and more proof that even in Connecticut, no Democrat is safe.

And why should they be? Democrats have controlled the Connecticut State House and Senate and the state is swimming in debt that’s approaching more than $3 billion. Like other states, it only could balance the budget by postponing payments to the state pension fund. It’s Congressional delegation all voted for the stimulus and the porkapalooza and Obamacare (which even here is getting a thumbs down). And along comes Mr. “More of the Same”.

Propelled by Connecticut likely voters who say they are “angry” with government, former wrestling executive Linda McMahon, the Republican U.S. Senate candidate, is closing in on Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, the Democrat, and now trails just 49 – 46 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

This compares to a 51 – 45 percent Blumenthal lead in a September 14 likely voter survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll, conducted by live interviewers.

The internals are interesting too, as independents and voters “angry with the government” swing toward McMahon.

In today’s survey, 4 percent are undecided and 9 percent of voters who name a candidate say they could change their mind by Election Day. Blumenthal leads 89 – 9 percent among Democrats. McMahon leads 80 – 16 percent among Republicans. Independent voters shift from 47 – 46 percent for Blumenthal September 14 to 49 – 44 percent for McMahon today. In a gender reversal, women back Blumenthal 56 – 39 percent while men back McMahon 52 – 44 percent

The 33 percent of likely voters who say they are “angry” with the federal government support McMahon 78 – 20 percent.

Blumenthal has no one to blame except himself and … well the President, whose left wing agenda that has turned the stomachs of even Connecticut yankees. He lied on his Vietnam service and then denied he lied which even cost him Chris Matthews:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdRUz4CEvyM

Then he lied about his support of cap and tax. And his idea of creating jobs for Connecticut is to sue business. Oh brother. Remember? From the Connecticut Senate Primary debate with Merrick Alpert

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRSpQ1ud9R0

Meanwhile, Linda has run a smart, unrelenting campaign. She’s hit him hard on his “mis-statesments”, first on Vietnam and then on Cap and Tax, which first he denied he supported, then when confronted with his own words, told Connecticut he supported another version. And then, while he stood there stunned, she calmly presented her views on the issues: repeal Obamacare, extend the current tax rates, and stop Government spending.

She’s pro-choice, which for me is disappointing, but I guess in Connecticut, it’s a popular postion. But on everything else she’s running a smaller, less intrusive government campaign that resonates, as it should, with cranky Yankees.

I’ve been saying for sometime now that scratch a New Englander and underneath you find a libertarian, if not a conservatarian, yearning to break out. This may just be the year.

UPDATE: This one’s too easy, but I thought appropriate.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvufFwdqMzg

Posted in

Jim Vicevich

Jim is a veteran broadcaster and conservative/libertarian blogger with more than 25 years experience in TV and radio. Jim's was the long-term host of The Jim Vicevich Show on WTIC 1080 in Hartford from 2004 through 2019. Prior to radio, Jim worked as a business and financial reporter for NBC30 - the NBC owned TV station in Hartford - and as business editor at WFSB-TV in Hartford for 14 years while earning six Emmy nominations and three Telly Awards.

33 Comments

  1. winnie888 on September 28, 2010 at 2:43 am

    This is TOTALLY the year…not making any predictions, and certainly not laying bets, but deep in my heart I am convinced that something wicked (good) this way comes as a result of this election.  People want to be heard, Linda's listening.  Blumenthal is like a rudderless boat…no direction whatsoever.  He has no answers to the questions, unless suing business is an answer, and beyond that, he's lacking in character.  This is totally a no-brainer.  But of course, someone will come back with a comment about WWE and totally miss the point that the dems have totally wasted this state and this country.

    "Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack)"…every time you put that in a post, I find myself mindlessly saying it over and over.  Now it's gonna be in my head all day…THANKS, Jim…lol



  2. Tim-in-Alabama on September 28, 2010 at 2:55 am

    I find it hard to believe Connecticut might not send to the US Senate a hero who successfully sued the Viet Cong.



  3. Lynn on September 28, 2010 at 3:20 am

    I am awestruck, Tim has said it all!



  4. NH-Jim on September 28, 2010 at 3:54 am

    I always take Quinnipiac's poll results with a grain of salt because I am suspicious of favoritism towards the AG.  In 2002 the university's School of Law awarded AG Blumenthal the Raymond E Baldwin Award for Public Service.  (I never considered elected or paid governmental/municipal jobs as public service; volunteering at a soup kitchen is public service and more deserving of the award).



  5. chris-os on September 28, 2010 at 3:55 am

    Well, can't believe it, maybe in Alabama or Mississippi…but CT?

    Well, if she wins, I hope she watches out for the citizens of her state the way she cared for her employees.

    Oh no, wait…

     



  6. TomL on September 28, 2010 at 4:16 am

    Chris remember the wrestlers are independent contractors.



  7. Dimsdale on September 28, 2010 at 4:20 am

    I am curious: what employees did Rambo every have?  What experience does AG give you that the head of a corporation lacks.  Or vice versa?

     

    Did he ever get that Prius he wanted to use to commute from Fairfield every day?



  8. winnie888 on September 28, 2010 at 4:21 am

    TomL…independent contractors/employees, same thing to some people.  And, I think she'll do a better job of looking out for the citizens of CT than Blumenthal ever could.  Blumenthal STILL hasn't gone on-air with Jim?  C'mon…he's spineless.  How many times has Linda spoken to Jim — and with audience participation?  Just sayin' is all…



  9. Tbone McGraw on September 28, 2010 at 4:24 am

    Actually Tim, it wasn't quite that successful. You see, in order to file a suit against the Viet-Cong, you would be required to "Actually" go to Vietnam to file. As we all know, The Dick was there, only in his mind. That doesn't even stand up in the courts of Vietnam. Believe it or not.

    P.S. if this message offended anyone? Please file it under; "I misspoke", that always works! ROFLMAO.



  10. RoBrDona on September 28, 2010 at 4:31 am

    Yup – Blumie is hiding because he can't answer reasonable questions on job creation (nope, anti-business stance has destroyed whole job sectors) Practical private sector experience of any kind (nope) His lies (nope) Any indication that his is not an Obama Butt-Boy (nope). 



  11. VictimsRevenge on September 28, 2010 at 4:33 am

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    You have to give Linda credit. She knew right from the start that it wasn’t going to be easy, but she dug her heals in and fought and she’s still fighting. By showing us all the kind of fighter that she is, Linda McMahon has earned our respect and the polls reflect Connecticut’s growing support of her. Richard Blumenthal on the other hand, thought this was going to be a cakewalk and was unprepared for a fight. Now we are able to see him for what he is, and that is a partisan Democrat insider that never had to fight for anything until now, and it just might be too little too late.



  12. chris-os on September 28, 2010 at 5:11 am

    never had employees. OK

    As AG he oversees 14 departments.

    I met a woman on his staff that said he was a workaholic and expects nothing less from his staff.

    He was chief fed prosecutor successfully prosecuting many major cases against drug traffickers, organized crime, white collar criminals, civil rights violators, consumer frauds, etc.

    He was elected to the state senate and state house.

    Yes, she had "independent contractors-no medical benefits, they have to pay their own travel-they travel almost every day of the year. Read the books about her co.-her people  are overworked, often injured-poor to no medical care.

    She refused drug testing for years.

    Any of them that tried to join the screen actors guild or stuntsperson's union were immediately fired.

    She made soft-porn videos denigrating women , simulating necrophilia, etc.

    You win Dims-she has lots of experience!

    And tell me again how the right is a movement of "family values" and "Christian principles"?



  13. RoBrDona on September 28, 2010 at 5:36 am

    An AGs SOLE JOB DESCRIPTION is to prosecute criminals for the State- not spending at least 50% of his time persecuting tax-paying businesses to the huge detriment of CT. Are you adding the hours he spent at unnecessary meetings and venues he attended solely for personal PR? Workaholic?

    As for the horrors of running an ENTERTAINMENT business, are you grouping all of the Hollywood entertainment lefties in on this? Is the price of admission having to be in a union? 

    Independant contractors get paid more – also your much loved AG made it very plain that he would go after out-of-state domiciled entertainers for taxes – easy call for any businessman.

    On the drug issue steroids were not illegal in the period you speak of. I'm sorry but liberals have the idea that people must be saved from themselves, if necessary by legislation. I do not.

         



  14. chris-os on September 28, 2010 at 6:03 am

    "An AGs SOLE JOB DESCRIPTION is to prosecute criminals for the State-"

    No he represents the state in CIVIL matters-not criminal, he has nothing to do with criminal cases.

     



  15. RoBrDona on September 28, 2010 at 6:14 am

    Yes – mea culpa, I meant "civil litigation" – thinking and typing too fast.



  16. Dimsdale on September 28, 2010 at 7:01 am

    So you give an anecdotal comment from "a woman on his staff" (not exactly objective), and his job description.  Overseeing 14 departments is not running a business, and it is not being one in one hundred votes.

     

    You didn't answer RoBrDona's other comments.

     

    Funny that this "fighter" is so tepid in this race.

     

    My concern with Blumie is that he will simply be another rubber stamp for the Democrat party.  If not, he should come on Jim's show and show us his stuff.  All to often, his personal agenda has influenced his job, which is not a reassuring indication of what he would do in the Senate.  If he can convince me otherwise, then more power to him.  I haven't seen it yet.

     

    Do we really need another career politician?



  17. Tbone McGraw on September 28, 2010 at 7:51 am

    Hey Rob, I think "The Dick never needed to meet the needs of a payroll", would serve your position better. As far as running departments? Its not all that hard if you have many assistants (loved to see that number) and the tax payer is the one responsible for the generated income. Loved to see the overtime tab on that as well.

    The Dick is just another "public servant" whose only really job experience is lining his coffers and planning his next election. I'm not happy with McMahon and have many issues with her positions. But, I'm sure if you look into those "So called" books. You'll find many a "Disgruntled Employee" and I'm sure they made a penny or two from their hit pieces. Not much credibility there and last I checked, WWE, independent employees or otherwise, has plenty of takers in the wrestling world (albeit acting). And that would indicate to me, that those individuals, made a personal choice to participate.

    Oh my, "personal choice" a liberal's worst nightmare. An informed individual, makes a choice without consulting the "Elites", "who know whats best for us" (cue John F'n Kerry). Yeah, I'll pass on the Dick!



  18. NH-Jim on September 28, 2010 at 8:56 am

    I feel I am in "déjà vu", sort of.  If we take a look back some years ago, there was another AG that ran for the Senate seat of a formally popular senator.  Enter Joe Lieberaman; exit Lowell Weicker. The difference though is that, at least, Joe has some ability to cross the aisle or take his finger out of the wind; not a true rubber stamp for any president.  When Dick "fights for us", is it really a fight for US or just the party power-at-will.



  19. weregettinghosed on September 28, 2010 at 9:41 am

    What we have here is a debate on who's better and sling some mud which always makes the little guy feel so much bigger and better but never truly gives a true picture.  Our government was set up to be small, with the most power with the people and the states having the most governing power. It was set up giving people the ability to use their own free will to discipline themselves, giving them the opportunity for advancement in whatever they so desired to be happy and prosperous. The people governed themselves on matters of society issues through peer pressure, that is you did not enter into activities that were not looked down upon by your peers.

    Enter corruption and the politicians began to take the control from the people, giving it to themselves. Laws and bills passed telling the people how to think, act and live. The Government has no business telling us what foods to eat, how to act around others, what jobs we can have, what is good for us, what is bad for us and the list goes on. We are not morons, we can think and those that can not better learn. It is high time, people like Blumie are tossed out and the people take back the governing, we do not need another law suit, what we need is someone that sticks their neck out to do the right thing and get America back on track. Linda may not be my first choice but she has the right attitude and she has the energy to drive her to where she needs to be.

     



  20. winnie888 on September 28, 2010 at 11:34 am

    What we are currently experiencing here in the U.S. is tyranny of the majority.  For those of you who have forgotten, the democrats are the majority…Were the dissenting opinions of the minority of any concern to that tyrannical majority (led by Obama puppets like Pelosi & Reid) when it came to passing Obamacare-you'll-know-what's-in-it-after-we-pass-it?  This is 21st century government-led oppression at its worst.

    And I do not even see that Blumenthal has said ANYthing regarding what his plans are for this state should he be elected.  I don't even see him trying to win this election…It's like he's a passive bystander; he seems practically apathetic about this race.  I don't even see him IN IT to WIN IT…Does he really expect, in this political climate, that the voters of Connecticut are going to simply hand him a Senate seat that was so corrupted by the previous democrat who held it?  He sure as hell ain't getting MY vote.



  21. David R on September 28, 2010 at 3:53 pm

    Poor Blumie, for many years our most popular and respected office holder, is a victim of strong anti-incumbent sentiment, and the belief that electing someone with no public service experience is a good thing. What happened to all the hub-bub in 2008 over a candidate's experience?  I am certainly concerned about the ability of wealthy individuals to fund themselves into viability. (Even though that gets us closer to the vision of some of the founding fathers, themselves some of America's wealthiest, who preferred government by elites.) Why  Because corporations already run government: not politicians as they'd like us to believe. As the American voter gets poorer, less well educated, and less prepared for the future, maybe it's best that we turn over government to those who can make a buck, regardless of how.



  22. chris-os on September 28, 2010 at 4:25 pm

    aaaah David R, you always make me think.

    now I am remembering an interview of Tom Foley by Dankowski. Foley said candidates need to use their own money when running for office.

    Dankowski said that that would mean only the wealthy could run for office. Response from Foley was …"Well, we are the ones with the connections".

    That is what it is coming to.

    'We, the people"…. no…. now with citizens united it will  be 'We the corporations".



  23. VictimsRevenge on September 28, 2010 at 4:54 pm

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    Maybe we should continue to promote the scheme that once a politician gets established they are able to arrange their position in such a way that it’s impossible to get them out of there. Then they’re able to hand down the position to their children and then to their children’s children. Who’s hell bent on implementing this socialist system? The system that is so blatantly apparent once the Democrats get into power. The system that is by its own design the ruination of such a vast amount of the unsuspecting common folks throughout this country. Once the corporations see how they too can use this system to improve their bottom line they’ll jump right on board. We have to start somewhere and a good place to start is to send a message to all that is willing and able to hear that Blumenthal is unacceptable because of who he is and what he represents. He is the one that knows that he can use the judicial system to put people in a bind in order to further his own ambitions without fear of reprisal, and this more than anything else is the reason that he and anyone that thinks like him disgusts me to no end. To anyone that supports him you are no better than he is.



  24. rickyrock on September 28, 2010 at 6:28 pm

    Speak your Mind ………that's what the sign says.Linda McMahon spends millions for a job that will pay 141,300 strange isn't it???  Has no concrete plans other than extending the Bush tax cuts ..by the way…when the rich are taxed less they spend less…. money supply doesn't create demand……do your research!!! Linda only pays 15 % tax on the dividends she is paying herself from her business.Interesting Have not heard anything on Medicare or Social security..just generalizations about getting more people carrying their lunch boxes to work.

    This woman is a joke ……a successful entertainer reading a very tightly scripted campaign.



  25. chris-os on September 29, 2010 at 3:39 am

    Oh, but Rickyrock…her concern is for "the little guy"!

    You know, vote in billionaires that support policies that grow and isolate their billions at the expense of the middle class, the environment and overall national health.

     

     

     

     



  26. socialenemy on September 29, 2010 at 4:01 am

    I love how the only thing the left ever has to say about Linda is that she's a successful business person… I mean really, when you break it down and remove the insutls, your pissed that she's rich. Well guess what boys, get over it. She worked hard to get to where she is, brought a company out of bankruptcy and mediocrity and turned it into a billion dollar giant that literally ran all it's competition out of business. WWE employs hundreds of people, not just in CT but all over the world. She knows how to create jobs, she also knows how to trim the fat. At the end of the day I want someone in there who knows when to say "enough is enough and it's time for a change" (we miss you Owen) Blumie won't say that, in fact, he won't say anything, he'll just rubber stamp Obama and continue the trend of killing this country. I will not fault someone for being rich, for wanting to protect their riches, but I will fault someone for trying to steal my money. What was it Blumie wants to do, bring 40 mil back to CT in the form of tax cuts? What? No? You mean that 40 mil he wants to bring to CT is from taxes from other states. WOW! Thanks Dick, I love other peoples money. NOT!

    Oh and by the way, what was it I heard on the news the other day about Blumie now going after John Roland? Funny how the former govenor gets a radio show and two weeks later the AG is sueing him for????? I don't even know, maybe someone on a non blocked computer could look that up for me.

    Bottom line is, Dick is a joke, a lier and totally spineless.

    Give me the rich chick anyday, atleast she wants to let me keep my money.



  27. Lucinda on September 29, 2010 at 7:29 pm

    Richard Blumenthal ain't exactly a pauper.

    http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/RICHARD-BLUMEN

    Granted, it's mostly his wife's, "whose family controls about 10 million square feet of commercial space in New York, including the Empire State Building. His disclosure form reports that his wife has a partnership interest in many of her family's real estate holdings, including Empire State Building Associates, LLC."

    From http://ctmirror.org/node/307

     

     



  28. Dimsdale on September 30, 2010 at 12:01 pm

    Hmmm.? I wonder why Rambo’s wife won’t spot him some money?? Could it be that he doesn’t want the public to know that he is probably as rich as McMahon?? I guess you don’t look like a defender of the little guy when you are as rich as Crassus.? At least if he loses, he can retire (all senses of the word) to his 5,900 square foot “hovel” in Fairfield.
    ?
    Why, when you think about it, you could say that he was “isolating his billions at the expense of the middle class, the environment and overall national health”, couldn’t you?? He gets a state car and driver, and state health insurance when he could easily refuse both, and certainly could afford it.? He could have donated his salary to charity or return it to the state.? Yet he didn’t.? Ted Kennedy (for all his faults) did, so we know it is possible.
    ?
    What are Rambo’s “concrete plans” for fixing all that is wrong with the economy and the government?? I looked at his site, and find a small list of things, yet on McMahon’s site, she has a definitive plan listed.?? Hardly nothing.? If you don’t like that she can legally have dividends taxed aft 15%, advocate for a flat tax.? Do we have any data on how Mrs. Blumenthal allocates her fortune?



  29. chieftim on September 30, 2010 at 2:16 pm

    After all is said and done, we really don't know what we'll get with Linda McMahon as senator.  The flip side of this is that we know EXACTLY what we'll be getting with the Mad Dog of Litigation, i.e., Richard Blumenthal:  yet another high-taxing, free-spending liberal Democrat, who, in this particular instance, has done more to give Connecticut a hostile-to-business reputation than any other individual.  No businesses means no jobs, people, and who wants to start a business in a state where the AG waits in the wings for the first excuse to sue?



  30. Lynn on October 1, 2010 at 3:33 am

    Lucinda, Thanks for the research! I needed a response to my friends who keep quoting from the NY Times magazine article about politicians buying their office. it's always Foley and McMahon, and I have to remind them it could have been Lamont, who has tried twice. Now, I know Blumenthal has money, too. I guess he doesn't believe enough in himself to donate to his own campaign.



  31. Dimsdale on October 1, 2010 at 5:41 am

    Well, we can definitively say that Linda won't be a rubber stamp for the Democrats…



Linda McMahon

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