Linda McMahon announces U.S. Senate bid, resigns as WWE CEO

WWE chief executive officer Linda McMahon officially announced her candidacy Wednesday for the United States Senate from Connecticut, promising to bring a fiscally conservative perspective to the institution. Shortly after her announcement of candidacy, Linda McMahon resigned as WWE CEO with her husband WWE Chairman Vince McMahon assuming the office.

Linda McMahon pledged to self-fund much of her campaign for the Senate as a Republican. She certainly has the financial resources to be a player in the Connecticut race but she isn't necessarily be the odds-on favorite even in her own party as her WWE experience could prove a double edged sword.

McMahon will have to play up her successful financial expertise with WWE while downplaying the specific nature of its product, especially as it existed during its provocative Attitude Era. Of course, Linda McMahon has never had a role in creating WWE's on-air content but that fact could be lost on non-wrestling fans. In an attempt to refute any criticism, WWE's corporate site is playing up the company's recent conversion back to fully TV-PG programming.

What the non-wrestling fans of Connecticut will also soon discover is that Linda McMahon is a serious person, perhaps too much so for this endeavor. She shares neither the outrageous bombast nor the natural charisma of her fellow McMahon family members. That fact could also prove another double-edged sword for Linda McMahon as she takes this most unique of journeys.

The Linda McMahon for Senate Web site is already up @ Linda2010.com with a Twitter feed @ LindaForSenate.

Official WWE statement on Linda McMahon / U.S. Senate

The following official statement is courtesy of WWE Corporate:

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Statement on Linda McMahon and the United States Senate

Linda McMahon, CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, is considering a run for the United States Senate representing the state of Connecticut. Should she decide to run, Linda would step down as CEO, and Vince McMahon would assume the duties of CEO in addition to his current position as WWE Chairman.

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More details on Linda McMahon's potential U.S. Senate bid from
WrestlingBloob.com.

WWE CEO Linda McMahon considering U.S. Senate bid

World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon is considering a run for the U.S. Senate from Connecticut. The Washington Post's The Fix blog reports that any McMahon run would be as a Republican for the seat currently held by Democratic incumbent Chris Dodd.

In a statement to the Hartford Courant's Capitol Watch blog, WWE spokesman Robert Zimmerman confirmed Linda McMahon's interest in the Senate race. The statement further indicated that Chairman Vince McMahon would assume the WWE CEO position in his wife's stead should she run for office.

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Whatever else may be stated about Linda McMahon, her success in the business world with World Wrestling Entertainment is unquestionable. Strictly in terms of dollars and cents, she has been key in keeping the company profitable even in today's difficult economy. That record of financial success and access to a significant personal fortune would be of great help to any campaign.

The obvious negatives to any McMahon run would be in the content of WWE itself. The longtime lewd, provocative nature of WWE programming was turned down significantly just in the last few years, in some measure to help smooth her way to the Connecticut state school board.

In fairness, she has played little to no role in the actual creative content of WWE over the years, leaving that aspect largely to her husband and daughter. Whether she can cash in on the positives of her WWE business experience without being drowned the negative perceptions of pro wrestling would be key in whether a Linda McMahon run would be a sideshow or truly viable.