Ex-WWE CEO running for state senate

Ex-World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon has begun campaigning for the 2010 Connecticut state senate seat as a Republican.

The wife of WWE president and current CEO Vince appeared on The View this morning and affirmed that she has a realistic shot at winning, especially now that Ted Kennedy's longtime Democratic seat in Boston has gone to a Republican.

"I believe that the people of Connecticut are looking for a change in leadership in Washington to someone more conservative, who can control spending and is more fiscally responsible," she said.

When asked whether her history in the wrestling ring as an occasional performer and her first-time political experience would hurt her chances, the former businesswoman insisted that voters will still get behind her.

"I think anyone looking at those [WWE] clips will see bad acting and know the difference between acting and reality. I helped Vince build a successful business from the ground up and I believe those leadership skills translate well in the senate," she said.

McMahon also responded to accusations that she's buying the seat by investing $500m (£308m) of her own money into the race. "This is my own money, I earned it and I'm not taking any money from special interest groups," she added.

She is not the first person from the WWE to enter politics - Jesse 'The Body' Ventura was the longtime governor of Minnesota.