McMahon yet to release income tax returns

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- Connecticut Democrats are taking a cue from the Presidential campaign and are questioning Republican Linda McMahon for not yet releasing her income tax returns.

The primary elections are four weeks away, but the State Democratic party is already targeting McMahon as their ultimate US Senate opponent.

According to the last public polling, former WWE/CEO Linda McMahon is way ahead of her opponent in next months Republican Primary, and is clearly in first place among all candidates in the ability to spend vast amounts of money on her campaign.

However, among both Republican and Democratic candidates she is dead last in one area. She is the only one that has yet to release her tax returns. All the others released them months ago. She has said she will.

Wednesday the State Democratic Party launched a website questioning why it's taking so long and noting that the principle issue of her campaign has been about cutting taxes for the middle class. It's quite clear that the Democrats believe McMahon will easily win her primary, so they intend to get as much mileage out of this as possible.

Even Republican commentators have said that Presidential candidate Mitt Romney is being damaged by his reluctance to release all his tax returns, although even he has released one year.

"I'm wondering, as with Romney, does she have some 'off shore accounts?' Or, is she paying less than her employees," said Nancy DiNardo CT Democrats Chairperson, "and those are the questions I think people have the right to know before they decide who they're going to be voting for."

McMahon's Republican Primary opponent, former Congressman Chris Shays is also asking what McMahon is hiding. His campaign says it reflects a pattern of secrecy as McMahon refuses to meet with newspaper editorial boards, and is limiting the number of face-to-face debates.

McMahon's campaign manager tells News 8 that her tax return will be released as soon as it's done, but because of a filing extension that may not be until October 15th.

Unlike all the other candidates; McMahon is one of the wealthiest people in the state and those kinds of returns can be super complicated.

If you're having deja vu right now, here's why.

When the Democrats had multi-millionaire Ned Lamont running for the U.S. Senate this was also an issue until Lamont eventually released a return.

McMahon's campaign insists this is not an issue and they will keep their promise to release it when completed.