Waterford — U.S. Senate hopeful Linda McMahon visited the buildings and grounds of Sonalysts Inc. Wednesday, marking the halfway point of her new "Jobs Tour."

The former wrestling executive came on an invitation from Janet Hinkle, daughter of Sonalysts co-founders David and Muriel Hinkle, who was impressed when she heard McMahon speak during one of the small-group appearances that have filled her campaign schedule since she announced her candidacy in the fall.

McMahon kicked off her latest jobs circuit on a shop floor in Newington last week, unveiling a six-point plan for economic growth and employment that centers on tax cuts and regulation rollbacks.

The goal of the 20-stop tour, McMahon said, is to familiarize herself with businesses across the state and hear what's on the minds of owners and employees.

"Touring these companies gives me a real insight into what's here as well as what some of the issues and concerns are," she said in an interview. "The bright line difference between myself and the other candidates in the race is that I'm a job creator."

McMahon arrived at Sonalysts headquarters early Wedneday afternoon. She emerged from a tinted-window SUV and stepped into the lobby wearing a gray blazer and white blouse with dress pants and flats.

McMahon exchanged pleasantries with the desk staff and met up with her tour guide, Peter Walsh, a company vice president, who escorted her through a series of production rooms and computer-aided design studios. The candidate made small talk with the 3D animation team, tapped her foot to the catchy soundtrack in a company video, and asked a shop-talk question about a large sound board used for polishing and editing video footage.

"This is actually the first company I've been to where I've had conversant knowledge," remarked McMahon, the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, now called WWE, "though I've learned an awful lot at all the companies I've been to."

After walking through the cavernous Studio 15 sound stage, she met privately with the company's co-founder, Muriel Hinkle, President Milton Stretton and Chief Executive Officer Lawrence Clark.

McMahon, 63, of Greenwich, is one of five lead candidates in the race to fill the seat of retiring Sen. Joe Lieberman. Her main opponent for the GOP nomination is former U.S. Rep. Chris Shays, who used to represent Fairfield County.

Democrats in the running are Chris Murphy, D-5th District, former Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz and state Rep. William Tong of Stamford.

After spending $50 million of her fortune in the 2010 Senate race won by Democrat Richard Blumenthal, McMahon is orchestrating her campaign very differently this time around. For starters, there is not one full-time staff person from the previous campaign on board this year, staffers said.

The 2010 effort was heavy with TV ads and direct mailings that may have turned off some voters and neglected the candidate's strengths in more personal settings. This year, McMahon is setting up as many as 10 meet-and-greets a week with small audiences.

"We're doing many small gatherings like at coffees and luncheons and evening social events, just to meet with folks and talk with them and let them ask me questions — to get to know me a little bit," McMahon said. "And that's being just incredibly effective."

That's not to say there won't be any McMahon campaign brochures delivered to mailboxes before November.

"We'll have all of the normal media as we roll out the campaign," she said, "but I'm enjoying doing this part of the campaigning."

Yet the basic message of the McMahon campaign appears to be the same as 2010: Here is a Washington outsider who knows what businesses need and what job creation is about.

McMahon's economic plan calls for reducing the federal corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent while simplifying the tax code by eliminating loopholes. It would cut the middle-class tax rate from 25 percent to 15 percent. The top affected income rate would be about $86,000 for a single person and $143,000 for a married couple.

The plan would also eliminate the estate tax, permanently repeal the Alternative Minimum Tax, repeal the national health care law and scale back finance regulations in the Dodd-Frank law, which McMahon fears could hurt lending to small businesses.

The plan also calls for a balanced-budget amendment and 1 percent spending reductions each year, with some exceptions, such as defense spending. It calls for more oil drilling and building the controversial Keystone pipeline.

j.reindl@theday.com