Former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon has won the Republican nomination for Senate in Connecticut, and will now face Democratic state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal in the race to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd.
With 53% of precincts reports, McMahon has 49%, former Congressman Rob Simmons 29%, and financial commentator Peter Schiff 22%. McMahon has been projected as the winner by the Associated Press. Headed into the general election, the TPM Poll Average shows Blumenthal leading McMahon by 51.4%-39.6%.
[TPM SLIDESHOW: Bringing The Smackdown: Linda McMahon’s Campaign For Senate, And Her Colorful Pro-Wrestling Past]
This has been a crazy primary. Simmons began as the early favorite, but McMahon’s heavy self-financing helped her win the state party convention’s endorsement in May. Simmons then suspended his campaign, seeming to drop out –Â only to get back in about three weeks ago with TV ads and a free-media blitz on talk shows and the local press, touting his credentials and slamming McMahon for buying the election. Interestingly, he then picked up the endorsements of many major newspapers throughout the state — but it clearly wasn’t enough.
Full coverage of the race here.
