Linda McMahon stumbles on minimum-wage questions

Connecticut GOP Senate hopeful Linda McMahon has run a largely gaffe-free campaign, until today. The former World Wrestling Entertainment chief was rolling out an endorsement from the National Federation of Independent Business, which opposes a hike in the minimum wage. During a press conference, McMahon was asked if she agrees with the NFIB's position.

According to a transcript of the news conference posted by The Day's Ted Mann, McMahon wasn't exactly precise in her answer. "What I think we have to look at whenever we are talking about minimum-wage increases is where is our economy at this particular point and how is that going to impact the businesses that are going to have to pay those wages," she replied.

Asked point blank if she thinks there should be a minimum wage, McMahon said the minimum wage is law. "But I think we need to review how much it ought to be, and whether or not we ought to have increases in the minimum wage, and how is it planned, does it get tied to inflation, or are there just automatic increases in it," she said. "I think we should always review the policies that have been put in place to make sure that they are in keeping with the needs today."

Mann then tried to clarify if McMahon was suggesting the minimum wage should be "reduced now," eliciting an even more confusing response. "We have got minimum wages in states, we have got minimum wages in the [federal] government, and I think we ought to look at all of those issues in terms of what mandates are being placed on businesses and can they afford them," McMahon replied.

Reporters interpreted that to mean McMahon is not ruling out a reduction in the minimum wage. But McMahon spokesman Ed Patru argued afterward that's not what she meant to say at all. He insisted to Politico's Ben Smith that McMahon was "clearly saying" whether the minimum wage should be raised.

Perhaps more damaging, however, was the fact that McMahon, when asked, did not know what the minimum wage is in Connecticut (it's $8.25) and whether any employees at the WWE were paid the minimum wage.

(Photo by Bob Child/AP)