Palpable sighs of relief aside, Lt. Gov. Mike Fedele and Greenwich millionaire Tom Foley – the big national Republican fund-raiser and former Bush-era ambassador – who are looking for the GOP nomination to run for governor, both had nice things to say yesterday, in written statements from their campaign bunkers, after John McKinney told reporters in the Capitol that he isn’t going to run for governor.
Fedele: “Senator McKinney has done a great job as Senate Republican leader and he continues to be an effective and reasoned voice in the ongoing legislative debate over taxes and state spending. He knows that Connecticut cannot continue to protect an unaffordable status quo as the Democrat majority has done for over a year. He knows that now more than ever, we must demand that government be accountable and fiscally responsible. Senator McKinney has been, and will continue to be, on the right side of these issues and he will continue to serve our state and its taxpayers very well. I consider Senator McKinney a valuable partner and ally as we work together to lead Connecticut to economic recovery.”
Foley : “John McKinney is a gifted and experienced public servant who would have been a strong candidate for Governor. But I am glad that he has decided to run for re-election to the State Senate where Connecticut needs his leadership. I look forward to working with him this year to elect more Republicans to the General Assembly.”