By ROBERT WHALE
Reporter Newspapers
As voters across state and nation streamed to polling places, Gov. Christine Gregoire made a brief stop in her hometown of Auburn on Tuesday morning to whip up a roomful volunteers at local Democratic headquarters on Auburn Way South.
Conceding a case of last-minute nerves, Gregoire nevertheless spoke with confidence about the outcome of her hotly-contested rematch with Republican Dino Rossi.
And of Democratic victory in the presidential contest between Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and Arizona Sen. John McCain.
“My prediction is that after 7½ years, we are finally on the cusp of taking this country back,” said Gregoire to raucous applause.
“We’ll fight ’til 8 p.m. tonight for every single vote,” Gregoire said. “We are saying to all the Republicans, ‘If you want to be on the winning side, join us.’ … We’re embracing them all – Republicans, Democrats, independents vegetarians, y’all come.”
Accompanying the governor on the final leg of an 11-day, “working family tour” that included stops in Pullman, Spokane, Longview and Bellingham, were her husband, Mike Gregoire, and daughter Courtney Gregoire.
Gregoire won a close battle with Rossi in 2004 by just 133 votes, after three ballot counts and a six-month court battle.
Meanwhile, activity at Auburn polling places was reported to be brisk but not overwhelming.
Bob Desjean, inspector at the Terminal Park Elementary School poll, reported that by 11:15 a.m., 200 people had cast their votes via the regular paper ballot, 20 had used the voting machine and a handful had submitted provisional ballots.
“For this precinct, it’s been busy,” Desjean said. “We’ve had a good busy morning, more so than in the years I have been here. It’s a big election.”
Eight different precincts are represented at the polling place.
By 2:43 p.m., Bobbie Eagan, Communications Manager for King County Elections, reported, “Voter turnout is strong, and things are running smoothly at the polls.”
Auburn voters also were being asked to select among the candidates for State Representative in the 31st and 47th Legislative Districts. The contest for 31st District Position 1 pits incumbent Rep. Dan Roach, R-Bonney Lake, against Democrat Ron Weigelt, D. Buckley. In the race for 31st District, Position 2, incumbent Rep. Christopher Hurst, D-Black Diamond, is squaring off against Republican Sharon Hanek, R-Sumner.
In the contest for for 47th District, Position 1, Mark Hargrove, R-Covington hopes to unseat Geoff Simpson, D-Covington while incumbent Rep. Pat Sullivan, D-Covington, is facing a challenge from Tim Miller, R-Auburn in the race for Position 2.
