LIVE from Vancouver: Gregoire reelection kickoff arrives in southwest Washington

With the 2008 legislative session and bill action followup finally over, Governor Chris Gregoire is officially launching her 2008 reelection campaign in grand style by beginning a five day, multi-county kickoff tour. Gregoire stopped first in Auburn and Tacoma earlier today and has been journeying south from there.

I'm here at the International Association of Fire Fighters Hall in western Vancouver where the governor arrived minutes ago to address a boisterous and crowded room of first responders, activists, and supporters.

Gregoire was introduced by Mark Johnston of the IAFF, who was himself introduced by Senator Craig Pridemore of the 49th Legislative District. Both Pridemore and Johnston touted Gregoire as a highly effective governor and spoke to the importance of keeping Gregoire as the state's chief executive.

The governor is speaking now, taking the wraps off what appears to be the first version of her 2008 stump speech. So far she has touched on a wide array of important topics - among them education, transportation, economic development, environmental protection, and public safety.



Unlike several of Gregoire's high profile speeches in 2007, this one has not focused excessively on trade, which is refreshing.

Gregoire is doing an excellent job of mixing accomplishments with a strong 2008 campaign platform, contrasting herself with Dino Rossi and outlining the challenges she wants to solve in her second term.

I was very pleased to hear her mention the defeat of Initiative 912 and the recent A score awarded to Washington by Pew's "Grading the States" report.

Pointing to the mess that Republicans have created in our nation's capitol as an example of the disaster that could strike Olympia under a Rossi administration, Gregoire declared, "We will not be, we cannot be, an echo chamber for what's happening there. And if that's what the people want, I'm not their candidate."

She continued:

But if you want to have someone who will continue to stand up and work hard, continue to take on tough challenges and deliver results, continue to fight for our kids and our senior citizens, be proud as a Washington state employee, work for our firefighters and those in law enforcement, stand up for our veterans, make sure we've got a great environment and good jobs, then I ask you to join me on the road to November.

The governor has been exceptionally well received by the Democratic faithful gathered here. She has already been interrupted several times with cheers, applause, and chants of "four more years!"

And of course, she arrived to a standing ovation.

UPDATE: Another blogworthy excerpt from Gregoire's speech:

I'm here because we're not done. There's still more to do... I don't want us to turn backward. I think we've got some real fundamental choices to make in November. Do we want a governor who believes in the people of the State of Washington? Who believes in the hope of every single child? Who understands that we have an opportunity to be even greater? Or [do we want] someone who is critical and [uses] fearmongering to [scare] the people of the State of Washington?

I want that governor with hope and belief in the people of the State of Washington.

UPDATE II: Gregoire has just concluded her address by firing up the audience for the campaign ahead. "Are we ready to win in a landslide?" Gregoire asked, smiling. She was answered with a roar of enthusiasm.

The Governor is currently working the crowd - answering questions, posing for photos, and meeting supporters. It's a fine display of retail politics, but what's really wonderful to see is how relaxed and happy Gregoire is. She is having a good time and enjoying the energy in the room.

It's a reassuring sign that the campaign will be robust and resilient in the months ahead. And the fact that Gregoire ended the first day of her kickoff tour in southwest Washington indicates she is prepared to travel and engage Washingtonians in every corner of the state... not just the central Puget Sound.