Because she didn’t lose.
The good news for Chris Shays is that he dominated Thursday afternoon’s Republican U.S. Senate debate. He spent 60 minutes raising disturbing questions about Linda McMahon, blasting her for “assaults” on women, minorities and the disabled during her years overseeing WWE programming.
But the lasting image of Linda McMahon is a candidate who stuck to her talking points and who brought the discussion back to the economy whenever Shays went nuclear. Because of that, she didn’t lose. For a candidate with a big lead, that’s all that matters. And with only one more debate scheduled, she’s more than half way to the nomination.
McMahon – steady, focused and used to the WWE-bashing – stayed on message and turned over no new ground over a 60 minute back-and-forth that featured zinger after zinger from Shays. But throughout, the former WWE executive repeated “jobs and our economy” every time Shays brought up WWE, her fortune, dead wrestlers or said she reminded him of Hugh Hefner.
Facing a double-digit deficit in the Q Poll, Shays unloaded on McMahon, from those degrading WWE YouTube videos to the steroid deaths of her wrestlers. His message was that Linda is unfit and this is a race about saving the soul of the Republican party. Good copy, but ask Rob Simmons how this strategy worked out among Republicans dazzled by Team Linda’s organization and money.
“What kind of jobs have you created? What about the 41 people who lost their lives before the age of 50?” Shays said, referring to WWE wrestlers who died because of steroid abuse. ”She talks about her grandchildren. What about their grandchildren?” Talk about taking off the gloves.
McMahon responded with what a lot of Republican voters might find more un-nerving: she called Shays a “professional politician” and a job killer. The voters, Linda told him, “talk to me about jobs and the economy … We have big issues to talk about.”
“People’s homes are being foreclosed upon. Millions of people can’t find a job. Kids who graduated from college can’t find a job … Our seniors are worried. These are the issues of the day.”
Brutal.
There are still big issues to discuss – Linda’s “jobs plan” is painfully short of details. It’s not at all clear why a millionaire from Greenwich is any more qualified for Washington than a man who spent 20 years there. Shays still has to offer more than his I’d-make-a-better-Republican-senator argument, particularly when voters are in a throw-the-bums-out mood.
The McMahon campaign is convinced that Connecticut don’t doesn’t care about the crass storylines from the old days of the WWE. Shays is going all out making an issue of it, but he can’t afford the sort of TV ad bombardment required in a situation like this.In the coming weeks look for Shays to keep hammering — and for Team McMahon to just say jobs to whatever he says. Welcome to the Republican senate campaign.
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20 Responses to Shays Won Debate. And So Did Linda.
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Chris Shays so obviously won this debate. The fact that Linda McMahon DONATED to Rahm Emanuel is disturbing to me. I looked it up and she donated $17,000 to Democrats in 2007. That’s unreal. Shays a guy I could get behind for a party nomination. Someone who isn’t loyal to her party (or even her old employees) isn’t someone I want representing me.
PResident Obama made a great speech in Ohio today. Worth catching the whole thing. The GOP rebuttals won’t take away from it being a great stump speech.
Shays pinned Linda for the entire debate. She went on Auto Pilot about her plan like a programmed Robot. Linda invented the war on women.
Shays was the clear and only winner. McMahon sounded like a broken record, not a viable candidate.
What a load! Linda did a great job today talking about issues that MATTER. Shays closing statements– please donate to my campaign? I cant recall a single important message he delivered today. He spent all of his time attacking WWE. And THAT’S the sign of an experienced Washington leader? He’s got NOTHING to say about what he can do as a Senator? His campaign slogan is “Don’t Vote for Linda McMahon”– witha all that “experience” I expected at least a less pathetic approach. Shays was desperate and defensive and it showed. Say what you want, Rick– this guy is done.
“People’s homes are being foreclosed upon. Millions of people can’t find a job. Kids who graduated from college can’t find a job … Our seniors are worried. These are the issues of the day.”
that says it all right there.
Shays has twenty years in Washington and exactly what can he come up with? WWE bad…i have watched WWE for over 25 years and believe me..it is tame compared to where it once was. Why isnt Rick Green telling us dumb people here about the millions who watch wrestling every week, the endless USO shows for the military overseas, Iraq,and quite a few other countries? the wrestlers who take personal time to travel across country and out to give a sick child a wish thru the make a wish foundation and other charities like it, are us millions, and military all devients for watching sports entertainment? ISnt WWE on late at night with a disclaimer at the beginning of the shows? where’s the uproar with daytime Soap operas? sexual perversians, crime, infidelity..you know stuff thats all reported about the WWE or what it once was. If this is how Shays wants to portray Linda, then gloves are off for all Political screw ups in the past. we need fresh blood, a person who can keep a balanced checkbook, not a lazy politician who has become part of the elite of washington.
Well now we know why Ms McMahon agreed to only 2 debates….Congressman Shays was the clear winner.Ms McMahon was scripted and returned to her stock sound bite of “job created” ad nauseaum.What else could she do…..?Certainly she could not defend the company that she “helped to build” though I was under the impression it was her father in law that started the company….but I digress…..Mr Shays was on point discussing the issues facing our country…he has a breadth of knowledge that is such a contrast to Ms.McMahon who doesn’t seem to have any understanding beyond her sound bites. I applaud him for going after her tenure at the WWE….like it or not that IS her record…what else is there?this whole “grandmotherly I am just like you” is a hard act to swallow. The voters of this state have a very clear choice… a man devoted to his state and country with the experience to make a great senator…..and a highly unqualified woman who is willing to ignore half the voters by not debating in Fairfield County …though after her performance today not surprising.
Chris Shays is no Rob Simmons.
Rob was often accused of being a RINO but Shays is the real RINO.
This Simmons backer is backing Linda this time.
Joe Visconti saying Linda invented the war on women? The same KING who constantly disparages women on his blog? He has no respect for women at all. The more he promotes Shays the more decent people run for cover with Linda. Visconti is making Linda’s job easy. I bet he was worth at least 200 votes to Linda at the convention after he convinced Shays to assault delegates who supported her.
As an ardent Linda supporter I hope and pray Visconti continues to show his brand of support for Shays. That Bridgeport debacle was talked about all over the convention floor. People were so mad Shays assaulted an RTC Chair with false allegations. Visconti also uncovered McMahon’s foreclosure which totally back fired on Shays. Too many people have been down that road of late or face it coming and they know Linda has walked in their shoes.
One can only assume Visconti is on McMahon’s payroll because he is a one man wrecking machine for the Shays campaign. Don’t be surprised if it’s found out he is a dual agent!
Linda was the clear winner in the debate. He cannot come up with anythign but attacks on the WWE, it is ridiculous. It is a scripted entertainment show, it is like attacking a soap opera, everyone knows it is not reality and cannot be judged as such. Forget the WWE storylines, as some who has a special needs family member, I am offended that Chris Shays would use the term retarded. To paraphase Shays in today’s debate “I do not want my senator to be someone who SAYS those kinds of things.”
I too feel that Linda did actually win
Do you want to truly know what’s a sin
Colin McEnroe just gave me the boot
F-free speech who gives a hoot
I guess only liberal voices are allowed to talk to him
Shays is a desperate candidate, has nothing new to offer and all he can do is attack…the WWE references are real old Chris, if you had a problem with the company, why did you take campaign money in the past from the McMahons?
http://www.ctpost.com/default/article/Shays-accepted-campaign-cash-from-the-McMahons-3513910.php
WWE is fiction–all of the performers were and are paid well just like any other actor in a movie, sitcom or play. As far as I can tell none of these performers were made to get in the wrestling business and did or are doing things against their will.
This is why Shays is losing big in the polls, same old rhetoric from a 20+ year washed up politician.
Linda was the clear winner here. Pathetic, whinny, desperate, anger-laced display by RINO “I vote 40% with the Democraps”, Chris-Cross Shays….! No wonder he had to beg for money at the end…
Having said that… the debate had very little substance.
In response to all the snarky comments obviously posted by Ms McMahons’ minions/supporters……to say running the WWE is a qualification to make fiscal and economic policy is like saying that falling into a mud puddle means you can make it rain…does not follow…there is a world of difference between rolling in the mud and cleaning up the fiscal mess. It would be refreshing if we could reign in the vitriol and have intelligent discourse in the comments.
Chris Shays is Connecticut’s Rip Van Winkle, a man who awoke from a long slumber expecting everything would be the same as when he dozed-off. What Shays woke up to find was that he is out of synch with the new reality of CT GOP politics. Perhaps after the August 14 primary Mr. Shays will board the train back to Maryland. He can lean back and day dream of the way things were when he commanded attention and respect in Congress. His performance in the debate got plenty of attention, but no respect. And he earned it all.
If you would go to the dictionary and look up RINO, you will find a picture of Chris Shays. Chris Shays is more like a closet Democrat and I wonder why the State GOP allows him to run. Chris, no pun intended, but I hope Linda body slams you and puts you out for the count. If you really want to run, why not primary Chris Murphy in the democratic party that you really should be in.
Shays poll numbers go down, and his attacks on the WWE go up! I’ve said it all along, this is all political. The true story has to do with the hundreds of people who are able to provide for their families because the WWE employs them and the thousands of families who are able to enjoy some time together watching. Yes the programming has not always been the same, but its time we looked at what the WWE is today for so many people.
All Shays did was attack WWE with false statements. There is NO “War on Women” by WWE, women account for over 40% of the weekly tv audience. It’s not even close to porn, it’s rated TV-PG and is shown on major networks. Everyone knows that WWE matches are fake and scripted. What happens on there is supposed to be viewed as entertainment, nothing more. Please stick to the facts!
Why does Shays continue to NOT talk about jobs and our economy and focus on attacking Linda on WWE business??? He’s starting to look like he’s avoiding his plan to help CT get moving again…fair question to be asked.
Charter Oak
Shays won? During the debate I was wondering if he was running against WWE or McMahon.