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Gov. Chris Gregoire greets supporters at a gathering for donors at the Washington State Democratic Party election night party Tuesday in Seattle. Elaine Thompson / The Associated Press

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Gregoire quickly re-elected

Wednesday, November 5, 2008 6:56 PM PST

By Rachel La Corte
The Associated Press

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OLYMPIA — Four years in the making, the rematch between Gov. Chris Gregoire and Republican Dino Rossi ended sooner than even the candidates expected.

Within a few hours of the polls closing Tuesday, Gregoire was declared the winner. She was ahead by 54 percent, compared to Rossi's 46 percent, in unofficial returns with about 55 percent of the votes counted early Wednesday.

Unlike 2004, when Rossi took an early lead on Election Night, Gregoire jumped out front early and hung on.

"I think people came into this race with the frame of mind of the last race," independent pollster Stuart Elway said. "Everyone expected it to be a 133-vote race, but it was never going to be that."

Gregoire beat Rossi four years ago by the closest percentage margin of any governor's race in U.S. history — just 133 votes out of about 2.8 million cast, after two recounts and an unsuccessful Republican court challenge.

That loss has been simmering with Republicans for years, and Rossi wasn't ready to concede this time.

"We saw in 2004 and again in the primary this year that later votes cast and counted trended heavily toward Dino Rossi," Rossi spokeswoman Jill Strait said in a statement. "If that happens again in this general election the results will change."

Rossi and Gregoire had a bruising campaign, raising more than $20 million combined in the most expensive election in Washington history. That amount doesn't include the millions spent by third-party groups on TV ads and mailers, most of them negative in tone.

In her victory speech at the Westin hotel in Seattle, Gregoire noted "all of the negative ads are down" to loud cheers.

"It is time for us to come together as one great state," she said, and thanked and congratulated Rossi.

She also thanked voters "for participating in history" and said she looked forward to working with president-elect Barack Obama in January.

Obama captured Washington state's 11 electoral votes Tuesday, and his popularity here, along with the surge in new voters, may have been key to her success.

"The blue wave has swept into Washington and helped her candidacy," Elway said.

Another major difference this year was the absence of a third party candidate to siphon votes. In 2004, Libertarian Ruth Bennett got more than 2 percent of the vote in November, about 63,000 votes.

Voting began in mid-October. Because the vast majority of voters cast mail ballots, many of which come in on or after Election Day, many people, including the candidates, were expecting that a final result might not be known for days.

Four years ago, Rossi was ahead by 681 votes at the end of Election Day. Gregoire jumped ahead of him in the following days, but 15 days after the election, it appeared Gregoire had lost by just 261 votes. A machine recount narrowed that lead to 42 votes.

A second recount, done by hand and paid for by state Democrats, put Gregoire ahead by 129 votes. The state Republican Party sued, but Gregoire was inaugurated and the court challenge ultimately failed — although the judge threw out four illegally cast votes for Rossi, raising Gregoire's margin of victory to 133.

Matt Barreto, a political scientist at the University of Washington, said that Gregoire did much better this time in Eastern Washington, and in other swing counties like Pierce and Snohomish, which she lost in 2004.

Gregoire was ahead Tuesday in 16 of the state's 39 counties, including eight counties that she lost four years earlier.

She lost Snohomish County by 6,400 votes in 2004. With more than half of that county's vote counted Tuesday night, Gregoire was leading Rossi by more than 20,000 votes.

State Democratic Party spokesman Kelly Steele said Gregoire's strong showing "validates her first term and what she's accomplished."

Exit polling found that Gregoire attracted more women, moderates and college-educated voters, while Rossi found core support in small cities and rural areas, east of the Cascades and among those who weren't college-educated.

Rossi didn't get the crossover from Obama voters as he had hoped. Only one in 10 of those who voted for Rossi also voted for Obama.

Independents, surbanites, men and wealthy voters were split between the two candidates.

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jibjab123 wrote on Nov 5, 2008 7:42 AM:

" Go home Dino! Go home Dino! Go home Dino! Go home Dino! "

Mr. Bastinado wrote on Nov 5, 2008 7:49 AM:

" As of this morning, CG has a 115,000 vote lead over Dinosaurus. Okay Dino, time to man-up and pick up the phone and wish the Governor well for the NEXT 4 YEARS. "

huh? wrote on Nov 5, 2008 7:51 AM:

" Yeah!! 4 more years of high unemployment... if the state has enough money to fund 4 more years. "

AmericanGirl wrote on Nov 5, 2008 8:17 AM:

" When you lie,cheat,steal and buy your way in, it's easy to claim early victory. "

cheney119 wrote on Nov 5, 2008 8:29 AM:

" TDN Bad Boy, DW, and all you other Gregoire bashers where are you now? You are the wise punits that have been talking about how Rossi would be the great governor. Rossi has not conceded the race because he is of typically low character, heck he's a real estate developer. I suggest we required mailed ballots to be posted by the Friday before the election in order to expedite things in the future. Best wishes Bad Boy, love to hear from you soon. "

JoeShmo wrote on Nov 5, 2008 8:37 AM:

" Dino has 2 more recounts before giving up. "

funnyone wrote on Nov 5, 2008 8:38 AM:

" Every vote counts? Not hardly when someone can call a race with less than half the precints reporting. I think its an insult when any candidate does that before all the votes are counted. "

Pinky wrote on Nov 5, 2008 8:43 AM:

" I'm a gregoire basher an I am right here!! I am upset, not even half the votes are counted and she is declaring victory??? I didn't vote for her and dropped my ballot off yesterday which means it is isn't counted yet!! Go Dino!! and Go away gregoire!!!! "

the Grateful Dad wrote on Nov 5, 2008 8:48 AM:

" The ONLY reason that Gregoire would claim victory with less than half of the votes counted is that she already KNEW what those votes would be. Don't forget, she IS the governor of the state, and is a Democrat. She has full influence over the right people to ensure her victory, no matter what the final vote count may be. OUR VOTES DON'T COUNT IN NATIONAL OR STATE ELECTIONS HERE IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. The only real voice we have is in our towns and counties... oh, and where it counts most anyway, with GOD. "SOME WILL TRUST IN CHARIOTS, AND SOME IN HORSES, BUT WE WILL TRUST IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OUR GOD." I will, as the Bible directs us to, pray diligently for all elected officials, whether I agree with their policies or not. We are all loved the same by GOD, and HE is the ONE WHO is ultimately in control. I look forward to flying Home soon! Congrats to the newly elected public officials. I pray blessings on you daily. "

jibjab123 wrote on Nov 5, 2008 8:50 AM:

" 4 more years of high unemployment? Hah, that's what happens when the republicans drive us into the ground with a poor economy! I expect the economy will recover within two years of Obama taking office and jobs will be flourishing in the Pacific Northwest once again. Also, for all you uneducated factory workers, maybe it's time to get a degree to further your employment possibilities. "

Mr. Bastinado wrote on Nov 5, 2008 8:53 AM:

" I have to agree With cheney on this one. If you go to the Sec. of State page, you can see the voting results (county by county if you so choose). There is no possible way Rossi can overcome her lead, even without King County. She simply wiped him out. His candidacy has been soundly rejected by the voters of this state. This was easy to see last night as the statisticians showed on the tube. The fact that Gregoire had to claim victory without his congratulatory phone call speaks volumes to his character (or, lack thereof). He is a loser, and is acting with extremely poor character. I don't know about the rest of you folk, but I was raised to fight a good fight, but if you lose, get up, dust yourself off, congratulate the winner, and move on. It's now time for all of us to move on. "

enlightened wrote on Nov 5, 2008 8:56 AM:

" Hopefully, the Sour Grapes will fade and people will start to work together again.Unemployment is high throughout the nation not just Washington State. Instead of tossing darts of insults, why not hope for optimism and a new begining.This nation has been crippled and not because of Gregoire. With a bright and ambitious new President Elect Obama, we now have hope for true change. "

Beach Bum wrote on Nov 5, 2008 9:03 AM:

" I guess everyone liked paying all the extra taxes that Chrissy handed down to us. So, here we go again for another 4 years. The people that voted for her need to quit their griping about taxes and get ready to pay more. "

cheney119 wrote on Nov 5, 2008 9:05 AM:

" Lie cheat and steal, that's sounds funny coming from a Rossi supporter since he was deposed last week on campaign law violations. There was no 3rd party like in 2004 and Gregoire won, that's the story, everything else is sour grapes. Funnyone if you have an 8% lead with over half the votes counted, 600,000 votes left to count from King County, you have lost the race. The insult is not conceding when appropriate, just more republican sour grapes. Republicans are bad losers, but boy are they a bunch of losers. Most people disagree with republicans, they just live in an echo chamber and don't speak with normal people, this election illustrates the point. "

castle rocker wrote on Nov 5, 2008 9:05 AM:

" cheney119: Rossi is of low character for not conceding? Didn't Miss Gregoire lose two out of three counts last time and still not concede? And now with half the vote in Dino should concede? Interesting. Why shouldn't he get 3 counts as she did? Third times the charm. "

ltown wrote on Nov 5, 2008 9:08 AM:

" I agree with funnyone how do you call this a win Gregoire should have kept quite until more votes were counted!! "

MACaroon wrote on Nov 5, 2008 9:51 AM:

" It's not over til the fat lady sings.....or all the votes are counted. "

coveredinit wrote on Nov 5, 2008 9:56 AM:

" Have you people ever heard of MATH? Once 44% came in, MATHEMATICALLY she couldn't make it. "

TDN Bad Boy wrote on Nov 5, 2008 10:10 AM:

" Cheney, I'm right here. So it looks like we get 4 more years of Da Tax Queen. Sure hope they aren't as bad as her first four years. Anytime a business owner would take a $2 billion budget surplus and over spend until they have a $3.2 projected deficit they probably wouldn't be in business anymore. It will be very interesting to see how she plans to cover her ass on this one. I'm guessing Da Tax Queen is about to explore the possibility of a State Income Tax. Either that or she is going to figure out a way to pass unfunded mandates down on the public, like she did with the education union pay increases. Da Tax Queen is no dummy. She knows ways force her Liberal spending down the public's throat. But hey we get what we vote for. However, Cheney, until the votes are all counted, Dino has a right to wait. Good for him. As for the rest of us, bend over Joe and Joan Q Public, Da Tax Queen is about to give it to you again. "

beach bum wrote on Nov 5, 2008 10:13 AM:

" Well, jibjab123... If Fibre or Weyco closes down like Reynolds did, where all of us uneducated mill workers work...a highly educated person like you may want to start looking for work elsewhere. Cause there won't be much left in Longview and the surrounding area. Of course, a highly educated person like you probably already figured that out? "

Kalama Dude wrote on Nov 5, 2008 10:23 AM:

" The fact that any free thinking open minded citizen would still bring up Ayers or the birth certificate issue clearly shows how brain washed and frankly out of touch some of you are. The cert was cleared months ago, as he couldn't have been nominated at the convention. Do some of you even believe today is Wednesday or are you in some alternate universe where only your ideas and rules apparently apply? You lost, I told you were going to lose and I told you Dino the Rossi would lose and BIG, which is exactly what happened. I would love to give you fine people the benefit of the doubt as capable functioning citizens, but I don't see how that is possible. If you are at a loss for words this morning, call up fountain boy or gravel merchant AGAIN and they will tell you what to type or say or publish in a letter as they are want to do. Rossi lost any margin he claimed to have from 4 years and every other close race was over before it started, so ask yourselves what does of any of this party leadership do for you, but make you stressed, gray your hair and maybe help you to lose your local job. Less people are buying gravel and putting in backyard ponds and fountains, so even that segment of the local economy isn't working very well. I can only now with you good luck with your sanity, so there! "

UW Squirrels wrote on Nov 5, 2008 10:23 AM:

" Rossi and his supporters are all the same. He won't admit he lost, and they won't admit he lost. In 2004 the difference was 261 votes, that's why there was a manditory recount. Today, it's 113,800 in Gregoire's favor. It's over, no recount needed. And I love how everyone complains that it's already predicted she'll win. Every news network made that prediction last night before she declared victory. And it's like that with every election. Would you same people be complaining if Rossi was declared the winner with only 50% of the vote counted? I think not. Face it, Gregoire is the Governor. Time to pick up the phone, Dino. "

tazman22 wrote on Nov 5, 2008 10:25 AM:

" I guess if you like the taxes and economic position of Washington then congradulation to our governor "

jon wrote on Nov 5, 2008 10:48 AM:

" A very interesting comment from JibJab123 as Follows:
" Also, for all you uneducated factory workers, maybe it's time to get a degree to further your employment possibilities ".
What an inlightened statement from someone who is an obvious Mensa canidate in the making.
JibJab I bet you won't mind the Governor spending all of those factory workers state income tax either will you? "

AmericanGirl wrote on Nov 5, 2008 10:53 AM:

" Well all my repub friends we have one thing to look forward to and that is when all he** breaks out It will be all Dems to blame they will have to look in the mirror and say and I voted for that!! Hey Queen B Kelso Special ed program looks real good. "

Pinky wrote on Nov 5, 2008 11:09 AM:

" What part of all the votes aren't counted yet, do people not understand? so she is ahead by 113,800 (as some commented) and if there are still more ballots to count then yes, he could still win! And I agree, why should <r rossi not get recounts??? Oh that's right cuz the road doesn't run both ways!! Keep on counting, I know when you get to mine it says ROSSI!!!! "

The Zipster wrote on Nov 5, 2008 11:21 AM:

" Somehow it is little importance or consequence if Rossi concedes or doesn't. Who cares? It is on his own head for acting like the ass that he is. In the 2004 election, Gregoire acted within the guidelines of the state RCWs when requesting the recounts and had there been any real problems with illegality, the repubs would have pushed it to the supreme court. She has won by a significant nargin this time and any further conjecture about the election is simply a waste of time and bandwidth. The repubs are going to have to get a life sooner or later. "

jibjab123 wrote on Nov 5, 2008 11:28 AM:

" Beachbum, you're exactly right! I moved here to take a well paying job and I'm more than happy and able to move elsewhere to take another well paying job. Through advancing my education, I have set myself up quite nicely for the future. Can you say the same for yourself? Maybe you can get a job at the new Super Wal Mart coming in! "

jibjab123 wrote on Nov 5, 2008 11:34 AM:

" Jon, if a state income tax is what we need in this state to keep is up and running, I'm all for it. There are plenty of states out there that have maintained an income tax without driving their citizens into poverty. The tax system in this country/state are far from perfect. Politicians will always be experimenting with taxes to find the best formula. I personally am in favor of a universal flat tax on products/services and doing away with an income tax. But there is a lot of debate that goes with that too. Nothing/nobody is perfect, but at least some of us make an attempt. "

DUH wrote on Nov 5, 2008 11:36 AM:

" You can count and re-count as many times as you want there Pinky. It wont change anything. Rossi lost... Move on. "

JD Hogg wrote on Nov 5, 2008 12:19 PM:

" It's already almost impossible to get new buisness to come to Washington....looks like we're going down, in a big way....you Democrat kooks will probably still be blaming Bush for everything 4 years from now...Socialism here we come! No Jobs, weak military, welfare, government healthcare! wheeeeeeee! "

Kalama Dude wrote on Nov 5, 2008 12:28 PM:

" American Girl, with all due respect, your kind won't accept that Bush did anything wrong, so with that silly logic why shouldn't the shoe be on the other foot. You fools lost and big time and this country isn't controlled by your party. Deal with and please leave NOW. If your candidates had come close then MAYBE you would have some ground to stand on, but alas you did not, so take your UnAmerican rheotoric and move to Canada or Mexico or Utah, but please get some help seriously because apparently you are going to need it. Good luck with that! "

GT SHT EM wrote on Nov 5, 2008 12:29 PM:

" I just cant wait to start paying a Wa state income tax. "

Motherof2 wrote on Nov 6, 2008 10:08 AM:

" RE: AMERICAN GIRL: DID YOU TRULY SAY "WHEN ALL HE** BREAKS OUT IT WILL BE ALL THE DEMS TO BLAME?" WHERE THE HE** HAVE YOU BEEN THE PAST 8 YEARS? HE** HAS ALREADY BROKEN OUT UNDER THE BUSH AND OR REPUBLICAN PARTY!!!!!! GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT OR SHUT THE HE** UP! NO MATTER WHO HAD BEEN ELECTED THIS TERM REP OR DEM HAS INHERAITED A HUGE MESS THAT THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT HAS CREATED AND LEFT FOR THE NEW PRESIDENT TO "FIX". YES, IT SO HAPPENS THAT THE DEM'S WON THE RACE, AND IF YOU CANT HANDLE THAT FACT THEN YOU AND YOUR REPUBLICAN FRIENDS CAN JUST SIT BACK AND WATCH WHAT A REAL DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT CAN DO TO "FIX" WHAT YOUR REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT HAS MESSED UP, NOT ONLY MESSED UP, BUT MY 9 YEAR OLD SON COULD OF DONE A BETTER JOB THEN HE HAS DONE!! BUT THEN AGAIN MY SON IS A DEMOCRAT............. "

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