By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

-- Former WWE CEO Linda McMahon is scheduled for her first public debate against Republican Senate opponents Rob Simmons and Peter Schiff on Tuesday at the University of Hartford in Connecticut.

The televised debate featuring the three Senate candidates in Connecticut will focus on key issues in the race and most-likely bring up a few WWE-related topics, especially after a local newspaper in Connecticut is planning a major story on Sunday covering historical steroid & drug abuse in pro wrestling.

The debate will be televised on the local Fox affiliate in Hartford and is sponsored by the Hartford Courant.

Courant reporter Daniela Altimari says it's a chance for McMahon to define who she is as a candidate while also testing her mettle not being in a safe, comfortable environment.

"The stakes would seem to be particularly high for Linda McMahon. Apart from her ubiquitous ads, many members of the public don't know much about her (unless they happen to be wrestling fans)," says Altimari. "The debate offers her a chance to define her candidacy. But it is also fraught with potential pitfalls. Despite her experience in front of the camera, she often comes across as stiff and awkward. And that's within the safely scripted confines of the WWE, not the raw, realtime dramatics of the political arena."

-- A reporter for a local New Haven, Conn. newspaper suggested McMahon is "sheltered" by her campaign staff and tries to avoid tough questions at local gatherings.

The reporter said McMahon would not give direct answers to questions asked by potential voters assembled at a recent campaign awareness event.

"During an appearance Thursday night in front of the Seymour Town Republican Committee at the town’s community center, McMahon took questions from the public — but inquiries from the sole reporter attending the event were eventually shut down by a press wrangler after McMahon’s speech," reports Joseph Cole. "The well-funded campaign has tried, in general, to seal off McMahon from reporters. Rather than alert the press to public events, even after repeated requests, it often posts YouTube videos after the fact and distributes the link to the media instead."

Caldwell's Analysis: The strategy all along has been to shield and protect McMahon by limiting her exposure and accentuating her strengths. McMahon has effectively maneuvered around questions with corporate-friendly responses and even tough questions have been shooed away by taking the slightest opening and shooting down any potential concerns about her history operating WWE. We'll see if anything changes during the debate on Tuesday. For additional perspective, check out Irv Muchnick's latest blogs today covering this topic.

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