Over the weekend Connecticut held its state nominating conventions. Richard Blumenthal was nominated unanimously by the Democrats while Republican chose former wrestling CEO Linda McMahon over former Congressman Rob Simmons. Simmons isn't out of it; he got enough votes to force a primary on August 10th.
Polls currently show that McMahon is a stronger candidate against Blumenthal (though not by much) and that McMahon is the favorite in the primary (though there haven't been many polls so it's really not clear). But this strikes me as a really poor choice for Republican chances.
Absent the recent controversy over Blumenthal's war record, the Republicans looked to have close to zero chance in this race. Blumenthal has consistently shown big double digit leads over both contenders. Whether or not those leads hold up in the face of this recent scandal isn't clear yet. (I continue to take a dim view of the Times' reporting of this story; but with Blumenthal's new, fuller apology, as a political point that's not basically moot.) But if Republicans do make this race competitive it seems clear that it will be the Vietnam controversy that brings Blumenthal down.
Now, between the two GOP candidates who can get more traction on this issue? Not even close, it would seem. Simmons is a genuine Vietnam combat veteran; he later served in the CIA and also in the Army reserves (retiring as a Colonel in 2003). If anyone can make it an issue he can. Meanwhile McMahon has basically spent her career as a sort of executive/professional clown in an 'industry' which is almost synonymous with fakery, nonsense and various other baggage you just don't want to bring into a political campaign. Even if voters decide Blumenthal is a seriously flawed person, I don't think many people would question that he's a serious person. And that's just not a claim McMahon's supporters can make.
It just seems like drawing McMahon as his opponent would be a godsend for Blumenthal. What am I missing?
Late Update: TPM Reader JM points to two big things McMahon brings to the table: money and the status of an outsider in an anti-politician. I must say these are both points well-taken, especially the first. She's clearly willing to spend a ton of money. Still, my sense is that the Vietnam thing will either kill Blumenthal or it won't. I'm not sure this one comes down to money.
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