Holding Her Off.

Democratic United States Senate candidate Richard Blumenthal has arrested Republican Linda McMahon’s steady gains, according to a Rasmussen poll released today.  The survey of 500 likely voters finds Mr. Blumenthal defeating Mrs. McMahon 53%-44%.   This is the first Rasmussen poll of the race that includes its method of including leaners in the calculations.  Without leaners included, the attorney general leads the wrestling mogul 51%-43%.

The battle of the Greenwich plutocrats finds that if Mrs. McMahon enjoyed a bounce from her August 10th Republican primary thumping of investment guru Peter Schiff and former Congressman Rob Simmons, it has dissipated.  Mrs. McMahon trailed Mr. Blumenthal 47%-40% in the previous Rasmussen poll of the Connecticut race conducted in early August.

Mrs. McMahon must see the same increase in her unfavorable ratings that Rasmussen reports.  Today’s poll puts it at a significant 49%.  That’s becoming a high hurdle to victory. Her campaign’s perpetual ad buy has recently included some positive spots, one on jobs and another a testimonial from a friend.  Some bark-stripping may be soon be Mr. Blumenthal’s lot as the McMahon campaign seeks to reclaim some momentum.  With 49% of Connecticut voters describing the state’s economy as poor in the Rasmussen poll, it may be time to put Mrs. McMahon in front of the camera, eliminate the elements, and let her explain what she’d do as a United States Senator.