After stepping away from her World Wrestling Entertainment empire, Linda McMahon is making it a close race for the Republican endorsement for Connecticut's open Senate seat.

McMahon has managed to deflect attention from the controversies of the WWE and wage an aggressive campaign, vowing to spend up to $50 million of her own money.

With the GOP convention set for Friday, McMahon and her campaign have unabashedly acknowledged they provided "some things" for a news report that front runner Richard Blumenthal had repeatedly distorted his military service during the Vietnam War.

Former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons is expected to win the Republican endorsement on Friday night, but some GOP members acknowledge it will be a close contest.

A primary is still anticipated in August.