In a deadpan Friday morning press release, Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Foley accepted a “gracious” offer from Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman to buy him a one-way ticket out of town.
In comments reported by People’s World, Wyman, the lieutenant governor and Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s running mate, offered to buy Foley a ticket to Wisconsin.
“If Tom Foley wants to see a ‘Wisconsin moment,’ I’ll pay for a one-way ticket for Tom Foley to go to Wisconsin,” said Wyman. “We need our unions in this state. We need our workers in this state. And we’re going to protect them.”
The comment was a jab at Foley’s relationship with state labor unions. Labor advocates have taken the Wisconsin quote, made by Foley to the Hartford Courant, as a desire to see collective bargaining rights scaled back as they were in Wisconsin after Gov. Scott Walker was elected.
But in a press release, Foley ignored all that and took Wyman’s offer at face value. He said he would be happy to visit Wisconsin.
“It was very gracious of Lieutenant Governor Wyman to offer to pay my way out to Wisconsin. My mother was from Madison, Wisconsin where I spent a lot of time as a young boy. I still have uncles, aunts, and cousins there who I would like to visit as Governor-Elect. So I accept her thoughtful offer. She can either send it to me or let me know when it is ready and I will pick it up at her office,” Foley said.
During a campaign stop Friday with Malloy and Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, Wyman said the offer still stood but said Foley would have to get used to riding coach.
“I’d be glad to do that. I don’t think he’s going to get used to sitting in coach because I can’t afford anything more. I know it’s not a jet or anything but I’d be willing to send him that ticket anytime,” she said, referencing a 1962 British fighter jet owned by Foley.