[UPDATED] WWE's Linda McMahon resigns to run for Senate against Dodd

Updated: Economist Peter Schiff is also weighing a run as a Republican for Dodd's seat.

Maybe The Rock and Triple H will serve as campaign managers.

Linda McMahon, the chief executive officer of World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., announced today she is resigning to run for Senate in her home state of Connecticut. McMahon, a Republican, will look to unseat Democrat Christopher Dodd in the 2010 election.

Although not nearly as flamboyant as her husband -- WWE Chairman and ringmaster Vince McMahon -- Linda McMahon is considered the brains behind the brawn. She has been CEO of WWE since 1997 and is respected on Wall Street. She and her husband have been focusing on making over WWE from a raunch-fest to more family-friendly entertainment, albeit a family that likes to throw each other around a ring and talk in double entendres (for more on how the WWE has been repositioning itself, read our Aug. 24 story). Whether the move toward kinder, gentler wrestling was in part motivated by her political aspirations remains to be seen, but it probably won't hurt.

With deep pockets and a fairly established presence in the state, McMahon could be a force in the race. According to the The Hill, a Washington political publication, McMahon's potential opponents for the Republican nomination are former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons, economist Peter Schiff and former Ambassador to Ireland Tom Foley. Interestingly, former Connecticut governor and Sen. Lowell Weicker is on the WWE's board of directors.

Inside the WWE, McMahon's exit comes as the company is in the midst of an expansion. Vince McMahon, who will assume his wife's CEO position, indicated last month that he wants to launch a cable network and is also pushing harder to make more movies with his stable of wrestling talent.

-- Joe Flint

Photo: Linda McMahon. Credit: Linda McMahon for Senate.

Comments

[David]

I'm not a fan of the WWE, and I know very little about Linda McMahon. However, what I do like is that someone who has obviously been successful in a business venture in the real world is running for office! Enough already of the career politicians who are detached from real America...let's get people who can represent the people for a change and not special interest groups!

[BC]

Glad to see it. Someone from your state needs to unseat one of the guys who are at the absolute main core of the reason why we are in the fix we now find ourselves, with no admittance of it, no punishment or responsibility taken on his part for any of it. You Go For It Lady!!

[Joe]

Hey Joe, Do a little more research on your article. Peter Schiff, the one who predicted the housing mess is also running. He already raised a million dollars just on his exploritory committee from people all over the country.

[Mqqneyes]

Fits right in with whats going on with the Repulicans these days. Maybe we can have a town hall wrestling match.

[Tommyboy]

Well what else is she going to do as the UFC shows what a joke the WWE is.

[Al]

Just what we need, another right wing republican working for the rich, big money and vested interest, and big lies are all the republicans care about and are good for.

[Anthony]

"Maybe The Rock and Triple H will serve as campaign managers."

^ While I see you're trying to make a joke, you do realize Duane Johnson has done EVERYTHING in his power not to be associated with "rasslin'", even taking off the moniker "The Rock" in his movies.

He'd be the least likely of candidates. But Triple H, I could see.. Ya know keep it "all in the family". LOL.

[The Varmint]

This makes perfect sense to me. She is used to dealing with people who think they are professionals, but they are really just clowns and performers. As a Republican, she will have to deal with a lot of that in her party of choice.

The Varmint
varmint345@yahoo.com

[Zach]

Well, it all depends upon what her positions. Will she be a true fiscal conservative or a RINO?

[CTG]

So we go from yelling "You Lie!" at the President to crotch-grabbing theatrics in The United States Senate? Oh, this is progress..........

Would someone please look at the lady's experience in any form of government?

[ryan]

Do you even know that Peter Schiff is running for the same office? Peter Schiff is a person who understands the advanced fundamentals of macro economics and international trade. Why don't you write about him?

Pro Wrestling CEO? This must be a joke.

[Stone Cold Steve Austin]

Linda Mcmahon better watch her mouth. She thinks she has what it takes to run for senate? She won't win and that's the bottom line, because Stone Cold said so!

[dr.g]

20 years later these money hungry trashy lunatics (the entire McMahon family) are finally attempting to clean up. 20 years after Bruno Sammartino told them to do just that. They owe all their success to him, the man who made wrestling nationally popular, gave credibility to the WWE (then the WWWF) and warned about steroid abuse. The McMahon's "used" wrestlers, took their lives and profitted from the wrestler's financially forced self abuse and suffering. I would never vote for the wife. I would never endorse anyone who climbed on other people's backs for their own financial gain. The McMahon's are not nice people.

[Dan]

More power to her! As a successful businesswoman she certainly would be an improvement over the current morons we have on the Hill.

[forest]

$PETER SCHIFF FOR SENATE!¢

[Conor]

I always thought politics and pro wrestling had a lot in common.

[Joe Flint]

Thanks for the comments pointing out that Peter Schiff is also running for Dodds seat as a Republican. I have updated the post to reflect that.

Joe Flint

[al4one]

linda mcmahon unlike barack obama has actually ran a big business and has been a part of a team that knows how to compete against rivalries(ted turner and the old wcw). i'm a big wrestling fan and i'm excited to hear this. i would love to see chris dodd unseated. people have not gotten what they wanted out of president obama and rush limbaugh is right, if you disagree with him the drive by media will call you racist. this is about substance. the american people do not want a far left country.

[monica]

David wrote: I'm not a fan of the WWE, and I know very little about Linda McMahon. However, what I do like is that someone who has obviously been successful in a business venture in the real world is running for office! Enough already of the career politicians who are detached from real America...let's get people who can represent the people for a change and not special interest groups!

Love it! Shared this with your post as my lead in!

[Joe Astley]

Very cool. Pro wrestling and politics have much in

common.

[jerry]

Someone who actually knows how to work within a budget is no joke. Al Franken is a joke. The brothel owner Barney Frank is a joke. Thsi lady is not a joke and should be heard out. Dodd shoudl be in jail for what he has done to this country. He can share a cell with Barney.

[Dave]

David:

If what attracts you to Linda McMahon is the fact that she is not a "career politician" (although being associated w/ the WWE I'm sure she can't be to bad w/ her acting abilities) and that she is has been "successful in a business venture in the real world" then why not consider Peter Schiff as well? Peter runs a very successful brokerage firm in which over $1.5 billion in clients' investments are managed. He's also written Crash Proof: How to Profit From the Coming Economic Collapse (written in 2006), and has foreseen all that has taken place with our economy as is evidenced by this very popular clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I0QN-FYkpw

which has been viewed over 1.5 million times. How about we consider someone who actually knows about the issues facing our economy and not someone who we are comfortable with merely because of name recognition. Chris Dodd surely must go, but Connecticut will be much better off if it replaces him with someone competent w.r.t. the issues, and has a proven track record for being right.

[Jason]

"So we go from yelling "You Lie!" at the President to crotch-grabbing theatrics in The United States Senate? Oh, this is progress..........

Would someone please look at the lady's experience in any form of government?"

I hear she has some experiance as a Community Organizer. That should be enough, right?

[Jeff]

Good for her. Someone neads to unseat these long time senators. Dodd and Frank were the biggest causes of the housing crisis, and the liberal media refuses to explore that, they love blaming business. As an executive she has experience that it is clear our president does not. Maybe I'll move to Connecticut if she wins!

[Ken]

Whatever you think of "sports entertainment", don't underestimate Linda McMahon. She has run a corporation well, one that has been very involved in charity and supporting our military men and women.

She has dealt with many difficult employees and contractors AND a difficult husband (by his own admission), has promoted political participation by the "average Joe" and "average Jane", has dealt with foreign governments and businesses, had extensive knowledge of dealing with the media. Her corporation puts on travelling live events and television shows, licenses merchandise, and is involved in media production (films, DVDs, music).

She could very well make a better Senator than the average community organizer.