McMahon Wins GOP Endorsement

Linda McMahon has won the GOP endorsement of her Connecticut Senate race:

Hartford, Conn. – Former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon won her party’s endorsement Friday night in the first round of ballots, defeating early frontrunner and longtime Connecticut GOP insider, former Rep. Rob Simmons.

Simmons, however, pledged to stay in the Aug. 10 primary despite telling the press throughout the race, and as recently as Wednesday, that he would drop out of the race if he didn't recieve the party's nod at the convention.

McMahon’s win and Simmons’ announcement set Republicans up for a contentious primary this summer, just days after a damaging New York Times report about the presumed Democratic nominee Richard Blumenthal misrepresenting his record of military service appeared to aid Republican hopes of claiming the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Chris Dodd (D).