A Big Day For Foley.

Republican Tom Foley scored a big victory two days before Republicans will endorse a candidate for governor at their state convention. The former ambassador to Ireland announced Thursday that he has collected the $250,000 in contributions of $100 or less required to qualify for public financing. Foley’s two most competitive rivals, Danbury’s Mark Boughton and Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, have struggled with the small-donation fundraising. Foley’s crossing the threshold will impress wavering delegates.

Foley was a persistent critic of taxpayer financing of political campaigns during his 2010 bid for governor.

Chris Keating has more on Foley’s big day.