The fight between the state Democrats, Republican candidate Linda McMahon and the WWE has taken on national proportions.
The state Democratic Party is asking the Federal Election Commission to investigate whether there is any illegal coordination between McMahon’s Senate campaign and the corporate campaign her husband, Vince McMahon, launched this week in the name of the WWE -- “Stand Up for WWE.”
When Vince McMahon launched the campaign, he said the Senate race between his wife and Attorney Richard Blumenthal has lead to “inaccurate attacks” about his company and asked fans to stand up for his company.
In one video posted, celebrities from Ryan Phillippe to Mrs. Brady – Florence Henderson -- talk about the power of the WWE. You can see the video here.
The WWE is also hosting its first “Fan Appreciation Day” in Hartford the Saturday before Election Day. On Election Night, there is a WWE event in Bridgeport.
“Linda McMahon maintains a close personal, familial and financial connection to the WWE, and is relying upon the resources of that company to advance her campaign in an apparently coordinated manner,” Democratic State Party Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo said in a news release.
McMahon stepped down as CEO when she launched her political campaign.
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Her campaign released a statement, saying the complaint has no merit.
“The FEC complaint is utterly baseless,' the campaign said in a new release. "This campaign scrupulously complies with all FEC regulations and has not and does not coordinate with WWE concerning its various corporate activities. We look forward to the FEC promptly dismissing this specious complaint.”
Dinardo's letter said "improper coordination" between Mrs. McMahon and the WWE is most visible in WWE’s new corporate public relations campaign and ‘rapid-response’ news operation on behalf of McMahon’s Senate campaign; WWE’s first-ever “Fan Appreciation Day” in Hartford the Saturday before Election Day; and, the potential interference of an election night WWE event in Bridgeport with voting in one of the state’s Democratic strongholds; and paid advertising now being broadcast promoting the WWE and featuring Mrs. McMahon.”
DiNardo is asking the FEC to investigate and impose “any appropriate penalties.”
