Associated Press
Updated: Aug 14, 2012 11:47 PM
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Wealthy former wrestling executive Linda McMahon has won a chance to become the first Republican U.S. senator to represent Connecticut in three decades.
McMahon defeated former U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays in Tuesday's GOP primary.
With 48% of the vote counted, McMahon was leading Shays 77% to 23%.
It's the second time the state's Republicans have chosen McMahon over a veteran politician as the standard-bearer in the general election for an open Senate seat. McMahon lost in 2010 to then-Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, after spending about $50 million of her own money. She has loaned or given about $15.7 million to this campaign so far.
Shays, a moderate Republican who represented the 4th Congressional District from 1987 until he lost in 2008, had touted his Washington experience during the primary campaign.
The seat is being vacated by retiring Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent.
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Comments
Hosed-by-the-system | August 15 2012 1:00pm
doesnt matter who the hell wins....repukes or demorats........they are STILL members of one of the worse governing bodys out there..........what only 10% approval rating now???? LOL..............BIG DEAL still useless and dysfunctional
101740 | August 15 2012 12:30pm
I emplore the people of the State of Connecticut. First, Linda McMahon is a job creator? And she has created jobs here in the State of Connectictu? First incorrect statement. What jobs? Wrestling? Second, she is very uneducated as to how it works in Washington. She is not going to improve our economy, she is telling you what you want to hear. And, cmon, enough, 62+ million to buy the seat? In November you have three choices, first is to vote for Mr. Murphy, second is to write in someone, and third, if you can't do either, don't vote. The biggest mistake we in the State can make is to vote for her.
MilfordNative | August 15 2012 9:03am
Once again, money beats substance. And the real loser here is the people of CT.
Alex | August 15 2012 7:08am
McMahon will never come close in November. She will be kicked to the curb at least as bad as Blumenthal beat her. Hopefully she will go away after that and realize people can see right thru her phone exterior. I'm no fan of Murphy, but he is going to kick her butt all that way to Greenwich
max | August 14 2012 9:07pm
"Linda McMahon has won a chance to become the first Republican U.S. senator to represent Connecticut in three decades." Looks like it will be 4 decades. It appears that state repubs don't have a clue who she really is. I would vote for Shays but never for her. Murphy will win bigger than Blumy did.
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