Source: Hearst Connecticut Media Group
Linda McMahon emerged from her witness protection-like vanishing act Monday to give Hearst Connecticut Newspapers one of her first interviews since losing to Democrat Richard Blumenthal in Connecticut’s bitter Senate contest.
A one-woman stimulus package for political consulting, direct mail and television advertising industries, McMahon said she she no second thoughts about spending $50 million of her wrestling fortune on the race, a record for Connecticut.
“So I don’t regret any of that, at all,” McMahon said in a phone interview from her pad in Boca Raton, Fla. “I was making an investment to serve and I think that’s a really good thing. I think you have to go into any kind of endeavor knowing what your downside is when you get into it.”
While her $50 million did not translate to a victory, McMahon said it did buy her name recognition that she can parlay if she decides to run for office again.
“I do not think I would have to spend anywhere near that amount of money,” McMahon said. “No one knew who I was. I made an investment and I certainly would not have to do that again.”
McMahon made it no secret that she is eyeing public office, though she wouldn’t specifically say which direction she will go.
“Sure. I’ll be moving forward this next year,” McMahon said. ”I have a couple (of avenues) to pursue. You’ll have to stay tuned.”
McMahon confirmed that she has no plans to return to her post as chief executive of Stamford-based World Wrestling Entertainment, which took a beating from her political opponents in the primary and general election phases of the campaign.
“Look, WWE was attacked throughout my campaign, and I believe the company had certainly not only the right but the obligation to put forth information to correct mistakes and errors that were out there,” McMahon said. “I thought all that was beneficial, not harmful.”
Another juicy morsel from our conversation was when McMahon, discussing the ballot shortage in Bridgeport and ruling to keep the polls open an additional two hours there, said she has a hard time believing that there weren’t isolated instances of voter fraud throughout the state.
“I thought it was reprehensible what happened in Bridgeport, and I still think that we have voter fraud that happens throughout our state,” McMahon said.
McMahon emphasized that any isolated causes of voter fraud would not have altered the outcome of the Senate race, however.
