McMahon launches second Senate campaign

SOUTHINGTON, Conn. (WTNH) - Linda McMahon officially launched another campaign for the U.S. Senate Tuesday.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm a proven job creator and today I am a candidate for the United States Senate," McMahon said.

McMahon chose a small manufacturing company in Southington to make her announcement, which was a big change from the last time when she made her candidacy official from a satellite television studio in Stamford.

Former Fourth District Republican Congressman Chris Shays tells News 8 he plans an even lower key launch of his campaign after Oct. 3. Two lesser known Republicans are also in the race, as well as three Democrats, almost assuring primaries in both parties next August.

Last year, McMahon spent $50 million of her own money in her 100,000 vote loss to now Sen. Richard Blumenthal. At this time, polling still shows her with high unfavorability numbers among women voters.

"I think she knows that she needs to do a little more work there," said former Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Chris Healy.

When News 8 questioned McMahon regarding President Obama's push for higher taxes on wealthy, she said she would like everyone to pay their fair share.

"I'd like to see everyone pay their fair share," said McMahon. "Forty-seven percent of the people today don't pay any taxes, so let's have a fair tax code where everybody pays their taxes."

McMahon chose 'Coil Pro' in Southington to announce her candidacy this time because her campaign expects to release what they call a comprehensive jobs plan with an emphasis on less regulation, not government spending, within the next few weeks.

Jeff Gagnon, the owner of Coil Pro, actually closed down for part of the day to make a statement about McMahon. They cleared part of the plant floor because Gagnon believes McMahon in the Senate would be good for business.

Employees we spoke with here agree with the boss. Mitchell Barnett of Plainville has worked here since the company started in 1997. He says the economy scares him.

"I don't see myself retiring because of the mess we're in," he said. "What's it going to be like in twenty years from now? Those are the things that I think about, and I believe she is one that could make a difference."

Coil Pro has grown to ten employees in the past fourteen years -- a small business success that's suffering like everyone else. Gagnon and his wife Maureen run the business. He says he gets to meet a lot of powerful executives in selling his product.

"Executives from large manufacturing companies and you see a quality in people, and it's a gut instinct that I have but I see that quality in her."

McMahon continues to have high unfavorability numbers among Connecticut women voters because of her long association with wrestling. Maureen Gagnon says it's not a factor for her.

"It doesn't bother me at all," she said. "I think she's a strong woman that worked hard and built a company."

Once again, that is going to be the central theme of her campaign, that government needs people with business experience. McMahon's campaign believes that Gagnon and entrepreneurs like him will help her spread her message and help her win this time.

* Edited Sept. 18, 2012 to add missing quotation marks to tax comment.