Locke will give party's response to State of the Union address

OLYMPIA — Gov. Gary Locke will deliver the national Democratic Party's response to President Bush's State of the Union address, according to Democrats here and in Washington, D.C.

The assignment will give Locke a high profile as Democrats struggle to find a message to compete with Republicans, who right now control national politics.

It also gives Locke the opportunity to burnish his Democratic credentials. Because of a state budget proposal that suspends three popular citizen initiatives and makes cuts in education, social service and health programs, Locke finds himself more popular among Republican lawmakers than his own party's legislators.

Washington Democratic Party Chairman Paul Berendt last night confirmed that Locke today will be named to respond to the president's biggest speech of the year.

Bush will deliver the State of the Union on Jan. 28 before a joint session of Congress.

"There is a tremendous amount of prestige to delivering the Democratic response," Berendt said.

It could help Locke locally, too.

"I believe Gary does have very strongly held Democratic Party beliefs, and I think this is an important time for him to be able to exhibit those and to speak passionately about them," Berendt said.

In 1999, U.S. Rep. Jennifer Dunn, R-Bellevue, delivered the response to President Bill Clinton's State of the Union speech. Dunn shared the duties with Oklahoma Rep. Steve Largent.

The selection of Locke was set in motion last week, when Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-South Dakota, told the Democratic Governors' Association he wanted a governor to deliver the party's official response.

"When you look at the most urgent and important challenges facing America today — from strengthening homeland security to improving public education and beyond — governors are on the front lines," Daschle said last week in a news release. Locke is the new chairman of the governors group.

Locke was a featured guest at Clinton's 1997 State of the Union address.

He also provided the Democrats' official response to one of Bush's weekly radio addresses in 2001. Locke attacked the president's environmental policies.

Seattle Times Washington bureau reporter Katherine Pfleger contributed to this report. David Postman: 360-943-9882 and dpostman@seattletimes.com