Blumenthal Takes Down Onetime Wrestling CEO Linda McMahon in Connecticut

After a costly and colorful campaign, Democrat Richard Blumenthal trounced Republican Linda McMahon -- onetime CEO of Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment -- in the race for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut.

Blumenthal, the state's attorney general, drubbed McMahon by 10 percentage points even after the challenger poured $45 million of her own money into the contest. His victory -- he will succeed Chris Dodd who is retiring -- held the seat for Democrats.

"I have something money can't buy -- I have you," Blumenthal told supporters, according to the Hartford Courant. "Connecticut today had an election, not an auction."

The wealthy McMahon came into the race as the former head of WWE -- the gaudy, grunt-and-groan soap opera world of pro wrestling. She hit hard at Blumenthal during the campaign, pointing out that he had falsely claimed to have served in Vietnam. But she could not close the gap on a well-known political figure in a Democratic-leaning state.

With her husband Vince McMahon standing in the background and her daughter Stephanie at her side, Linda McMahon told supporters Tuesday night she had spoken with Blumenthal and "told him it was a good race." If newly elected officials like Blumenthal succeed, she said to her disappointed throng, "we succeed."