Bocce and ballots for Foley on primary night

Tom Foley strikes us as more of a tuna melt kind of guy than the capicola type, more of a Scotch drinker than an Aperol spritz.

This makes Foley’s choice of venue for his Aug. 12 primary night party in the Republican governor’s race somewhat unexpected: Waterbury’s Pontelandolfo Community Club.

Named after a village in the Campania region of Italy that saw a great migration to Waterbury, the Italian social club and banquet hall is a magnet for bocce tournaments and weddings.

The Brass City has played a pivotal role in Foley’s second run for governor, with him declaring his candidacy at a local VFW post in January.

It’s outside of the Fairfield County Gold Coast comfort zone of the former U.S. ambassador to Ireland and private equity manager from Greenwich.

But it’s also an acknowledgment perhaps that Connecticut, more than any other state including New York and New Jersey, has the highest percentage of residents who identify as Italian-Americans.

Either that, or as one GOP insider said, it’s the food.

One of the club’s specialties is pasta e fagioli.

Neil Vigdor