The Hill’s 50 races to watch

Connecticut Senate

Chris Murphy (D) vs Linda McMahon (R)

Linda McMahon, the former professional wrestling mogul, is back for her second try at a Senate seat in Connecticut after losing to Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D) in 2010. 

She has tried to soften her image this time around, and after trouncing former Rep. Chris Shays (R) in the GOP primary, she is running much closer to the Democratic nominee, Rep. Chris Murphy. The two are competing to replace retiring Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I), who has not made an endorsement in the race. 

McMahon has used her personal fortune to outspend Murphy vastly, and the Democrat has also had to answer reports that he was sued for missed payments on two separate properties that he owned. 

A Quinnipiac University poll in early October gave McMahon a 1-point lead, while Democrats are hoping that a strong finish for President Obama and late help from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee can put Murphy over the top in a seat the party thought it would hold easily. 

The Hill rates this race as leaning Democratic.

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