PORT TOWNSEND — Gov. Chris Gregoire began a 24-hour North Olympic Peninsula campaign swing Sunday with promises for the future, strong words for her opponent and a couple of jokes.
Gregoire joined 13 other Democratic candidates running for state, regional and local offices at the Jefferson County Democrats’ 14th annual Fish Feast fundraiser at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds.
More than 350 people attended the dinner to hear Gregoire speak about the election that is likely to be rematch of the razor-thin 2004 race between her and Republican Dino Rossi that took three vote tallies to resolve.
But it was another candidate in the fall election that the first-term governor used to charge the Democratic crowd.
“Are you ready?” Gregoire asked the audience.
“I’ll tell you why we’re ready: In 183 days, 6 hours, 23 minutes when George Bush is out of office, we are looking at President Barrack Obama!”
The crowd cheered at Gregoire’s declaration as she held up a pocket watch counting down to President Bush’s final day in office.
