nothin Goldson Backs McMahon | New Haven Independent

Goldson Backs McMahon

Thomas MacMillan File Photo

(Updated)As Democrats rally to rescue Dick Blumenthal’s Senate campaign, West Rock’s alderman broke ranks and endorsed the Republican contender.

Democratic Alderman Darnell Goldson said he has a lawn sign in his yard for Republican Senate candidate Linda McMahon, has offered her a tour of his neighborhood, and is open to becoming a paid campaign worker.

Goldson endorsed McMahon in a press statement sent out late Thursday.

I’m supporting Linda McMahon for Senate, because I am convinced our state needs a Senator who knows how to create jobs,” he wrote.

Goldson said he maintains his support for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dan Malloy.

His endorsement rankled local Democratic party activists, who called the combination inconsistent. It came during a week when polls showed the race dramatically tightening. Blumenthal stood neck-and-neck with McMahon, who had trailed him by 41 percent in January.

Goldson said he met McMahon a few weeks ago during a visit to New Haven. He said he is impressed by her experience growing the World Wrestling Entertainment empire from scratch.

She is the American success story. She is what we all strive to do,” Goldson said. I think that if she talks to the people directly, I think her story carries some weight and influence.”

He said McMahon is an inspiration because she made her millions after starting from meager means and at one point subsisting on food stamps.

She wasn’t born with a silver spoon in her mouth. She’s lost everything to bankruptcy and she knows what it means to be at rock bottom. If you took away the Republican title and put her in the home of one of our neighbors, she would be just like one of us.”

Democratic Party Chairwoman Susie Voigt called the endorsement a surprise” and a disappointment.”

Just Thursday, McMahon said she is open to reducing the federal minimum wage. That’s a disconnect with poor, urban voters, she argued.

McMahon and Malloy are two very different figures presenting very different challenges in front of us,” she argued.

She said despite Goldson’s endorsement, I think the voters in New Haven will make it very clear that they stand behind Democrats. Not because of labels, but because the Democratic leadership provides a voice for many of us who don’t have a voice.”

Republicans will clearly stand on the side of the wealthier few,” she argued.

Goldson said he interpreted McMahon’s comments Thursday to mean that before increasing the minimum wage, lawmakers should examine the consequences. That makes sense, he said.

He called his support not anti-Blumenthal, but pro-McMahon.”

Goldson has made a part-time job for himself this year by diving into campaigns on the opposite side of the fence from the Democratic Party leadership. Through a consultancy company he set up called Campaign Management, Goldson worked for state representative candidate Deb Hauser in East Rock, and for Malloy’s primary campaign. He brought in about $13,000 in wages from those campaigns, according to state records.

The alderman said he is not being paid by McMahon’s campaign at this time.

I am not working for McMahon. I have not been paid, haven’t been offered any payment, and I haven’t asked for any payment,” he said.

He said he would be open to the opportunity: I have never ruled out a job offer. If they offered me a job, I would consider it. I don’t think anyone in this economy should ever rule out a legitimate job offer.”

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