It’s probably safe to say that wife jokes are rare in campaign debates.
Rarer still when the punchline is that a rival’s wife hasn’t yet hit puberty.
But state Treasurer Dan Rutherford went there in Thursday night’s debate on WTTW-Channel 11.
Moderator Phil Ponce asked the four Republican gubernatorial candidates to name the “biggest splurge purchase I ever made.”
“I bought my wife a car,” state Sen. Bill Brady offered.
Ponce asked what kind.
“It was a red Porsche convertible.”
“Wow,” a surprised Rutherford said, turning to Brady.
Trying to minimize the opulence of the gift, Brady said: “It was ten years old.”
“Your wife?” Rutherford asked.
Being in last place does offer a certain freedom.