Read a Pacific Northwest, liberal perspective on world, national, and local politics. From majestic Redmond, Washington - the Northwest Progressive Institute Advocate.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Governor Gregoire hits the campaign trail

Locked in a rematch with Dino "Reduce the Minimum Wage" Rossi that is shaping up to be the closest gubernatorial race in the country, Governor Chris Gregoire is spending long days on the campaign trail, meeting voters and listening to their concerns on every topic imaginable.

Yesterday was no exception, as the governor stopped at small business after small business across the Eastside, including the Pancake Corral in Bellevue, Kahili Coffee in Kirkland, and the Speakeasy Cafe in Duvall.

I made a point of dropping by Kahili Coffee yesterday afternoon because it's daily meet-and-greets like these that are at the real heart of Chris' campaign.

You wouldn't know it from reading the traditional media's coverage, which is all too often newsroom-based reporting on the horse race. Polls, debates, staged events, complaints by party chairmen, and the occasional recap of a rally or lavish reception are what comprises the news in the gubernatorial race.

But that isn't where the real action is.

The real action is the candidates winning people over vote-by-vote.

Granted, the governor can't win over all Washingtonians by visiting with them in person. She doesn't have the time to sit down with everyone.

But that isn't a good reason not to talk to people - and she knows it. Gregoire takes the idea of public service very seriously, and she feels an obligation to be as accessible to constituents as possible. She's often on the campaign trail.

It's also where she seems the happiest.

When she came through the doors of that Kirkland coffee shop yesterday, a burst of cheers and applause broke out as patrons realized the state's chief executive had just walked into their midst. That brought a big smile from the governor, who immediately began shaking hands, posing for pictures with students, and listening to stories. She looked relaxed and at ease, with no trace of exhaustion.

Governor Gregoire meets Kahili Coffee patrons

Yet she must have been incredibly tired, because she puts in long days. She's out and about by seven in the morning, and she doesn't get home until ten at night. She doesn't take breaks or try to recuperate on weekends because there is no time. Campaigning and governing the state demand her full attention almost every minute that she is awake. She has a tough schedule.

Somehow, she manages to stay focused like a laser.

When a voter is telling her something important, it's easy to tell, because her whole facial expression changes. She looks solemn. She maintains eye contact, listening attentively and occasionally nodding, absorbing the conversation.

The topics she hears about the most are education, transportation, healthcare, and jobs. Voters frequently present her with problems that have a local or personal twist (I can't pay off my student loans, I wish the state would do something about the unsafe arterial that runs in front of my house).

Governor Gregoire poses for a picture with constituents

The governor may not be able to solve many problems on the spot, but she does take voters' concerns with her. It's how she approaches the job. Caring and responsibility seem to be in her blood.

Gregoire's most vocal right wing detractors do not understand this. They have no idea who she is as a person. They despise what she stands for and they have tried to brand her as a self-centered, ignorant elitist.

On any given day out of the year, you can find sneering references to "Queen Christine" on local right wing websites or in emails sent out by Tim Eyman.

Most of these disgruntled right wing activists are clueless. They have just decided that they loathe Chris because she isn't in lockstep with their worldview.

Perhaps if they met her in person, they would appreciate that their governor cares about their prosperity and their future - even if they only care about their own.

Comments:

Blogger lithosol said...

But that isn't a good reason not to talk to people - and she knows it. Gregoire takes the idea of public service very seriously, and she feels an obligation to be as accessible to constituents as possible. She's often on the campaign trail.

It's also where she seems the happiest.


I take issue with your judgment on that. Gov. Gregoire was in Wenatchee two weekends ago, for the Chelan/Douglas Co Democrats JJ dinner. She was the featured speaker. She spoke early and was hustled out of the hall immediately upon uttering her last canned word--without taking any questions. She only made herself available locally at private/you-had-to-pay-50-to-100 bucks-to-get-in affairs. The JJ dinner also cost 50 bucks. She did NOT cruise around anywhere in the region to meet the "people," unless the "people" paid something. I and others I have spoken to are quite upset about that, and the fact that her advertising is almost non-existent in north central Washington. She may think she can blow off this part of the state, but I think she is being foolish, running yet another crappy campaign, like the last one she almost lost. No wonder the polls have her tied, or with Rossi even ahead. Who the hell runs Gregoire's campaign? They are crap. Seems like she could lose this one, amazingly. It's quite discouraging.

Governor of the people, my ass. Her campaign trail runs on the west side of the Cascades.

October 5, 2008 10:52 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home