Gregoire Now Says She’s Open to Obama Job

By Nansen at May 15th, 2010.

Whether you believe it’s all parlor tricks, or a real world scenario, Gov. Gregoire is at least now publicly stating a willingness to consider a presidential appointment in the Obama Administration — and that’s a radical departure from all previous reports (i.e. Secy. of Commerce or Interior).

In fact, Gov. Gregoire says she’s now “humbled” to even be mentioned as a potential pick to replace Solicitor General Elena Kagan.

As a female Governor whose endorsement of Obama carried great weight during his primary race for the presidential nomination against Sen. Hillary Clinton, Gregoire is undoubtedly seen as a political patron. While Gregoire’s lawyerly disposition and often times combative style hasn’t won her many fans in Olympia, it may be particularly well-suited to jousting with the Justices of the Supreme Court.

However, the fact remains that Washington State still finds itself in a major economic crisis (and as Gregoire might like to say, hence a “fiscal crisis” as well).

Aside from the poor shape she’d be leaving the state in financially, would a mid-term departure be a smudge on an otherwise unmarred executive resume? Or would it be a golden opportunity to make a grand entrance back onto the national political stage? (As one of the lead negotiators in the Big Tobacco settlement, Gregoire was thrust onto the national scene as a hero to trial lawyers everywhere — just see her year 2000 contribution reports as evidence).

For Gregoire to be D.C. bound, much may still hinge on the confirmation process of Elena Kagan. But even if Kagan’s job doesn’t perk Gregoire’s interest — there are rumors that Gary Locke may be in the running to succeed Mark Emmert at the U-Dub. So perhaps there’s more than one escape route available for the good Governor, who many Olympia insiders unfailingly mention as being unhappy in her current job.

Tags: Barack Obama, Big Tobacco, Chris Gregoire, featured, Gary Locke, Governor, Hillary Clinton