Connecticut bans WWE memorabilia at the polls

If you're planning to vote in Connecticut next Tuesday, leave your World Wrestling Entertainment replica championship belt at home.

Connecticut's Secretary of State, Susan Bysiewicz, has ruled that voters wearing anything WWE-related will either be asked to remove the item or be turned away from the polls on Election Day. The reason: Officials believe WWE memorabilia is too closely aligned with Linda McMahon, the company's former chairman, who is running for Senate. As such, Bysiewicz found the attire would violate rules limiting politicking at the polls.

McMahon and the state GOP have trashed the ruling as a violation of voters' First Amendment rights. McMahon's husband, Vince, echoed the sentiment, saying in a statement issued through the WWE that the ruling was "blatantly discriminatory." The company filed suit today to overturn the restrictions.

This comes against the backdrop of a Federal Election Commission complaint filed last week by Democrats against McMahon and the WWE alleging the two are illegally coordinating to boost the GOP candidate's campaign ahead of Election Day.

A Quinnipiac Poll out this morning found Democrat Richard Blumenthal leading McMahon by 12 points among likely voters in the race, with 6 percent still undecided. Why is McMahon losing ground? The poll found her unfavorable rating has increased in recent weeks. Among likely voters, 51 percent view her unfavorably — an increase of 5 points in the last week. By comparison, 55 percent of likely voters view Blumenthal favorably.

(Photo of McMahon: Jessica Hill/AP)