Connecticut Republicans held their convention Friday, where they endorsed a candidate for Senate. The choice was between a well-known moderate, former Congressman Chris Shays, and wrestling executive Linda McMahon. In the very red elections of 2010, McMahon spent $50 million of her own money trying to win the race, but lost.
A poll this year shows her set to lose again, and Shays running even with the presumed Democratic nominee. On Friday, Connecticut Republicans chose McMahon again anyway, by 2-to-1, at a convention that emptied out before she could give her speech. Today, Shays filed papers to force a primary. The Newtown Patch reports he also posted this pleading endorsement from State Senate Minority Leader John McKinney:
While there are a number of good Republicans running for the Senate this year, only Chris Shays can win. The independent Quinnipiac poll showed Chris in a statistical dead heat with Democrat Chris Murphy, while all other Republican candidates lost easily. With Chris on the ticket running strong, he will help all other Republicans down the line running for the state senate and state legislature. We must unite behind the Republican who can win, and that Republican is Chris Shays.
You can see why McKinney would argue for strategic thinking among his party members. With McMahon on the ticket, the 2010 elections were tough on Connecticut Republicans.
(On the show: Republicans pick against the moderate in Nebraska, Indiana.)