CHICAGO (AP) — Gov. Pat Quinn says his Republican challenger’s running mate should apologize for a 2013 comment asking if “cow tipping” was a job requirement in Springfield.

The remark came from an email Evelyn Sanguinetti sent to a Department of Human Rights staff attorney asking if there were any job openings. She’s now Republican Bruce Rauner’s running mate.

Rauner’s campaign has said Sanguinetti’s emails were to a former law school classmate and the comment was jovial in nature. Campaign spokesmen have dismissed suggestions that she was disparaging downstate Illinois.

However, Quinn told reporters Thursday that Sanguinetti should apologize for the “disrespectful” remarks, particularly in the strong agricultural state.

The Chicago Democrat seeking a second full term says that’s not the right way to “talk about anybody or any cow in Illinois.”

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