Connecticut Republican Senate candidate Linda McMahon is taking on political attacks over her past as CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, with its absurdist simulated violence and sex: It’s all just a “soap opera” that “isn’t real,” she says in a new TV ad.
“I was the CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment — a soap opera that entertains millions every week. And everyone gets in on the action,” McMahon says, with the screen cutting to a montage of wacky pro-wrestling footage, some of which even includes McMahon herself in the ring. McMahon then says: “That isn’t real. But our problems are.”
McMahon faces a similar problem as Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) did in his 2008 campaign, which he just barely won after a protracted recount, of getting voters to take her seriously and look beyond some of her raunchy content. A clear difference, though, is that Franken’s dirtier material was only a portion of his overall work — while for McMahon, the crazier material is nearly the entire output of WWE.
The TPM Poll Average gives Democratic state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal a lead over McMahon of 52.5%-37.0%.
For comparison, here’s a Franken ad that took on the same political problem. “Minnesotans expect a real debate. Instead, Norm Coleman and his allies are attacking me for things I said as a comedian,” said Franken. “Look, I’m not proud of every joke I’ve ever told. But I know there’s a difference between what you say as a comedian, and what you do as a U.S. Senator.”
Eric Kleefeld
Eric Kleefeld joined TPM as an intern for the final months of the 2006 midterm elections, and then kept showing up for work. His other interests include guitars, old comic books and the politics of various English-speaking countries.
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