Linda McMahon may make another run for Senate in Connecticut

When Connecticut Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman announced he was not going to seek reelection to the U.S. Senate, the first question in everyone’s mind was whether Linda McMahon would bring wrestling puns back to politics by rejoining the electoral smackdown in 2012.

Cheer up, sports fans. It now appears she will.

McMahon, who waged a highly spirited and expensive Senate race that she lost to Democrat Richard Blumenthal in 2010, is considering another run for the Senate. The New York Times first reported that she was talking to Republicans about support and possible campaign employees.

A former chief executive at World Wrestling Entertainment, McMahon spent $50 million of her own money in her unsuccessful Senate bid. This time around, she is reportedly hoping to raise money from others instead of using her own resources.

The Connecticut race was one of the closely watched battles of 2010 as the GOP sought, but failed, to win control of the Senate.

Normally, Connecticut is a solidly Democratic state, but McMahon generated excitement when polls showed that she was running within the margin of error against Blumenthal. On election day, however, Blumenthal won by a solid 11 percentage points.

In 2012, any Republican in Connecticut will face the added burden of running in a presidential year. President Obama won more than 60% of the vote in 2008 and will probably carry the state again.

Lieberman, the Democrats’ nominee for vice president in 2000, lost his party’s Senate nomination in a 2006 primary. He went on to win reelection, however, making him an independent who caucuses with Democrats in the Senate. He announced in January that he would not seek reelection in 2012.

In addition to McMahon, a former congressman, Christopher Shays, is a possible GOP contender. At least three Democrats are seeking their party’s nod.

michael.muskal@latimes.com