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Former State Sen. David Cappiello of Danbury, the campaign manager for Linda McMahon in 2010, pumps his fist after her state GOP convention triumph.

Contrary to the handsome and well-chronicled compensation package of Linda McMahon’s 2010 campaign manager David Cappiello, the former state Senator from Danbury is not on permanent retainer.

Cappiello confirms to Hearst Connecticut Newspapers that he will be volunteering for McMahon at Friday’s state Republican convention in Hartford, however.

McMahon’s current team reached out to Cappiello to enlist his help at the party conclave, where she will be competing against former Congressman Christopher Shays for the GOP endorsement.

Cappiello was one of the architects of a pair of McMahon victories in 2010 at the party convention and then in the GOP primary, where she dispatched ex-Rep. Rob Simmons and financial prognosticator Peter Schiff to win the nomination.

A floor general for McMahon at the last convention, Cappiello received an annual salary of $280,000 from the wrestling matriarch, who dropped $50 million of her own money on the campaign.

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A carving station at Linda McMahon's November 2010 election night soiree in Hartford.

Southerners have the market cornered when it comes to hospitality.

And Linda McMahon is no exception.

The North Carolina-raised wrestling mogul is poised to carve up the state Republican convention Friday night — not just figuratively.

McMahon is renting out a space at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford for a hospitality suite that is said to be comparable in size to the exhibit hall reserved by the state GOP and can accommodate up to 1,000 people, Hearst Connecticut Newspapers has learned.

It might be bigger.

“She’s gonna go for the kill,” a person familiar with McMahon’s setup told the newspaper on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak for the campaign.

Inside the massive space, which will be separated from the convention hall by a temporary wall, the two-time U.S. Senate contender is expected to treat Republican delegates to a smorgasbord of heavy horderves and an open bar rivaling her election night spread in 2010, when she was bested by Democrat Richard Blumenthal.

The selection of libations two years ago included Johnnie Walker Red Label, Bailey’s and Crown Royal.

McMahon’s hospitality suite is expected to once again feature carving stations, the person said.

McMahon campaign spokeswoman Erin Isaac tells Hearst that there will be no carving stations, however.

“It is truly silly season when we’re talking about catering and room rentals,” Isaac said.

“We have rented a space at the convention in order to accommodate the hundreds of delegates supporting Linda. And, just like other campaigns, we will serve food and beverages.”

The convention fare that will be served up by the McMahon campaign is said to include items like sliders and pizza.

Coincidentally, the Connecticut Convention Center hosted McMahon’s election night bonanza the last time.

Amanda Bergen, a spokeswoman for McMahon rival Christopher Shays, said McMahon’s largess is no surprise.

“She’s back,” Bergen said, invoking the catchphrase from the movie “Poltergeist.”

Bergen confirmed that the former GOP congressman himself is renting space at the Convention Center, but disputed scuttlebutt that Shays is renting out Crush Lounge in Hartford for his own soiree.

“We are not renting out a night club. We are not renting out a restaurant,” Bergen said. “There will be food and drink and the rest of the details are being worked out.”

Red meat Republicans might find McMahon’s chow line more palatable, however.

“We’re not having carving stations,” Bergen said.

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This Democratic primary is ON!!!

Responding to Susan Bysiewicz’s comments today to the press regarding her decision to challenge fellow Democrat Chris Murphy’s candidacy for U.S. Senate, the Murphy campaign had this to say: “Bysiewicz is known for running nasty misleading campaigns, and it looks like this one will be no different.”

Hey Chris, just consider this practice for your likely general election battle against Republican Linda McMahon…

Ad Republican Peter Schiff ran during his own unsuccessful primary campaign against McMahon  for the 2010 GOP Senate nod. McMahon made occasional appearances in her family-owned World Wrestling Entertainment matches.

UPDATE: Like I said above, it’s ON, baby! Bysiewicz’s campaign responds to Murphy’s response to Bysiewicz:

“It’s no surprise that Congressman Chris Murphy doesn’t want to talk about the issues or how he’ll stand-up for the middle class. He has accepted nearly half a million dollars in campaign contributions from Wall Street including $11,500 from JP Morgan. JP Morgan put a full court press on Congress with their lobbyists to water down financial reform and then lost $2 billion with casnio style trading. It is clear Congressman Murphy won’t stand-up to Wall Street but Susan Bysiewicz will.”

Source for JP Morgan Contribution: http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2012&cid=n00027566&type=I

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The General Assembly before adjourning Wednesday failed to take action on Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy’s bill eliminating a state police staffing minimum.

However lawmakers said the measure will likely be revived and wrapped into a bill the legislature must pass in the coming weeks implementing the revised state budget.

It will be interesting to see what happens with Malloy’s proposal now that the State Police Union has endorsed House Speaker Chris Donovan’s, D-Meriden run for U.S. Congress.

If Malloy – who has not endorsed Donovan – gets his way, the General Assembly will eliminate a requirement the state maintain a force of at least 1,248 troopers and the administration can sidestep a legal battle with the union over that minimum.

The troopers, in their statement endorsing Donovan, emphasized the candidate “understands the importance of sufficient State Police staffing.”

I asked Donovan today where he stands on the 1,248 rule. Keep it or eliminate it?

He said he has been allowing the various parties to try and work out their issues.

“I really haven’t had a discussion about it,” Donovan said.

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Matthew Oakes, the poor, disabled, gay East Hartford Trekkie who launched an unlikely bid for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination, is exiting the race to back U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy.

Oakes during Saturday’s nominating convention came in a distant third. Murphy received 76 percent of the delegate vote and ex-Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz 24 percent, enough to qualify for August’s primary.

Oakes got one vote. He said at the time he would decide over the weekend whether to petition his way onto the primary ballot or endorse Murphy.

Oakes this afternoon told me he and Murphy met this morning.

“There is an announcement coming,” he said.

While Oakes did not specifically say he’s endorsing Murphy, it’s easy to read between the lines.

Oakes said he believes now that the convention is over, the party should be united in its efforts to win (retain?) the seat occupied for years by Democrat-turned-independent Democrat/occasional Republican ally Joseph Lieberman.

For that reason Oakes said he is disappointed Bysiewicz is challenging Murphy’s nomination.

Oakes added he appreciated the sympathy note Murphy sent after the death of his sister April 27 following a long battle with drug addiction.

“He sent me a handwritten note. It was really special,” Oakes said. “It’s just one of those other things that has touched my life that other people – regular people – deal with … It did enough damage to her heart where her heart gave out. She had a massive heart attack. And Chris was just so, so kind and generous with his words.”