Linda McMahon Plans Another Senate Campaign Ahead Of 2012

(AP/The Huffington Post) NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Former wrestling executive Linda McMahon is apparently planning to go another round in an attempt to become a U.S. senator.

McMahon, the former chief executive of World Wrestling Entertainment spent more than $50 million of her own money in an unsuccessful campaign against Democrat Richard Blumenthal in 2010.

On the heels of her electoral loss last year, McMahon signaled she had no regrets about the sky-high amount of cash she poured into her campaign. "I absolutely decided from the beginning that I was going to invest my money, money that I've earned, to fund this campaign, because I felt it was important not to take special interest or PAC money and not owe any favors to anyone when I got to Washington," she said.

The New York Times reports:

This time, Ms. McMahon plans to raise money from private donors instead of relying strictly on her own money, according to one Republican close to her. She decided to take this approach partly because of criticism last year that she was using her wealth to buy herself a seat in the Senate, the Republican said.

Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Jerry Labriola says McMahon will be one of several Republicans who will seek the seat currently held by U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman in 2012. Labriola told the New Haven Register that an announcement from the World Wrestling Entertainment chief on her political ambitions is "imminent."

Labriola says former U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays will launch his campaign next month; Vernon Mayor Jason McCoy has filed an exploratory committee; and Brian K. Hill of Hartford has formed a candidate committee.