Like a professional wrestler complaining about an unfair tag-team match, Linda McMahon says the other U.S. Senate candidates are ganging up on her.
McMahon's aides point out that two of her Republican opponents — former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons and state Sen. Sam Caligiuri — have criticized her for contributing more than $35,000 to Democratic candidates and political action committees through the years.
"As is often the case when a political outsider begins shaking up the system, the career political insiders are fighting for their survival," campaign aide Jodi Latina says on McMahon's website. "That's no surprise. Their careers depend on protecting the status quo. What is shocking, however, is that Linda's political opponents — just about all of whom are part of the political establishment — are launching negative personal attacks so early."
Latina, a former television reporter in New Haven who recently joined the campaign, added, "It appears her primary opponents are so concerned about her candidacy that they are engaging in a seemingly coordinated negative attack on her. What are they afraid of?"
The clear answer is that McMahon's opponents expect her to spend as much as $30 million of her own money on the campaign.
McMahon is already spending at a blistering pace compared with her opponents. She launched a major television advertising blitz with commercials on the season premiere of "Saturday Night Live" and during a prime-time Notre Dame football game.
McMahon spent $2.05 million for the period ending Sept. 30 and has $1.45 million in cash on hand, her campaign said Tuesday night. She loaned $3 million to the campaign and made $496,000 in in-kind contributions for expenses she paid on behalf of the campaign.
Simmons, the Republican front-runner in the polls, has raised $1.7 million so far and has $1.086 million in cash on hand, according to his campaign. Simmons says he has more contributions than any other candidate, something he says will translate into individual votes.
More than 9,700 people have contributed to the Simmons campaign, including 5,305 during the just-finished third quarter. The average campaign donation so far is $173 — a small number when compared to the millions expected to be spent by McMahon, Greenwich business executive Tom Foley and Fairfield County investor Peter Schiff in the five-way GOP race.
"Connecticut's U.S. Senate seat cannot be bought, but must be earned voter by voter," Simmons said Tuesday. "My campaign's fundraising success, fueled by contributions from over 5,300 donors, lends further momentum to my campaign and is evidence that voters are rallying to my side as the candidate best able to defeat Sen. Dodd and return common sense and decency to Washington."
Foley, a former U.S. ambassador to Ireland, contributed $500,000 of his own money in the third quarter, and the campaign has $1.17 million cash on hand — very close to the cash numbers released by McMahon and Simmons.
Schiff has raised more than $1 million, while Caligiuri has said his initial fundraising efforts were hindered because he was tied up at the Capitol with his duties as a state senator.
The Republican nominating convention is next May, and a primary would be held in August before the general election against Dodd in November 2010.
McMahon's aides point out that two of her Republican opponents — former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons and state Sen. Sam Caligiuri — have criticized her for contributing more than $35,000 to Democratic candidates and political action committees through the years.
"As is often the case when a political outsider begins shaking up the system, the career political insiders are fighting for their survival," campaign aide Jodi Latina says on McMahon's website. "That's no surprise. Their careers depend on protecting the status quo. What is shocking, however, is that Linda's political opponents — just about all of whom are part of the political establishment — are launching negative personal attacks so early."
Latina, a former television reporter in New Haven who recently joined the campaign, added, "It appears her primary opponents are so concerned about her candidacy that they are engaging in a seemingly coordinated negative attack on her. What are they afraid of?"
The clear answer is that McMahon's opponents expect her to spend as much as $30 million of her own money on the campaign.
McMahon is already spending at a blistering pace compared with her opponents. She launched a major television advertising blitz with commercials on the season premiere of "Saturday Night Live" and during a prime-time Notre Dame football game.
McMahon spent $2.05 million for the period ending Sept. 30 and has $1.45 million in cash on hand, her campaign said Tuesday night. She loaned $3 million to the campaign and made $496,000 in in-kind contributions for expenses she paid on behalf of the campaign.
Simmons, the Republican front-runner in the polls, has raised $1.7 million so far and has $1.086 million in cash on hand, according to his campaign. Simmons says he has more contributions than any other candidate, something he says will translate into individual votes.
More than 9,700 people have contributed to the Simmons campaign, including 5,305 during the just-finished third quarter. The average campaign donation so far is $173 — a small number when compared to the millions expected to be spent by McMahon, Greenwich business executive Tom Foley and Fairfield County investor Peter Schiff in the five-way GOP race.
"Connecticut's U.S. Senate seat cannot be bought, but must be earned voter by voter," Simmons said Tuesday. "My campaign's fundraising success, fueled by contributions from over 5,300 donors, lends further momentum to my campaign and is evidence that voters are rallying to my side as the candidate best able to defeat Sen. Dodd and return common sense and decency to Washington."
Foley, a former U.S. ambassador to Ireland, contributed $500,000 of his own money in the third quarter, and the campaign has $1.17 million cash on hand — very close to the cash numbers released by McMahon and Simmons.
Schiff has raised more than $1 million, while Caligiuri has said his initial fundraising efforts were hindered because he was tied up at the Capitol with his duties as a state senator.
The Republican nominating convention is next May, and a primary would be held in August before the general election against Dodd in November 2010.
Never served political office, thats a good thing. The best thing she could do is shake the process up by asking real questions like when will the current incumbents get back to reality. Stop spending and focus on the economy. "It's the economy stupid" not healthcare, cap and trade, etc..at least she ran a profitable corporation that lived and died by revenue they earned by providing what people wanted to pay for....
Nomisimon (10/15/2009, 2:23 AM )