Gregoire's prowess at filling coffers continues

OLYMPIA — Anyone thinking about taking on Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire in the 2008 election better start rounding up a lot of campaign cash real soon.

Gregoire, not yet halfway through her first term, has raised nearly $1 million for her re-election bid. More than half of that money poured in during the past four months.

"We know it's early, but I don't think there's ever a bad time to raise money if you have people who support you and are willing to give," said Ron Judd, the governor's chief political adviser.

Judd said he has been spending many evenings and weekends soliciting support for the governor. Gregoire has had at least eight fundraisers since spring, Judd said. And her campaign sent fundraising letters to thousands of people who have donated to past campaigns.

Gregoire has received big checks from an array of interests, from oil refiners to commercial fish processors, from prescription-drug companies to trial lawyers.

Judd said Gregoire's ability to raise so much money this early is an indication that people are happy with the job she's doing.

But others speculate Gregoire is working hard to raise money because she is still spooked by the 2004 election, when she beat former Republican state Sen. Dino Rossi by 129 votes.

"I think it's more an admission by the governor that she will have a tough fight in 2008 and she needs to be prepared for that," said Randy Pepple, a public-relations executive and Republican consultant. "She realizes her poll numbers are still a ways from what you could call safe."

Gregoire's predecessor, Democrat Gary Locke, was an aggressive fundraiser. But Gregoire is setting a new standard.

In 2004, Gregoire and Rossi raised more than $6 million apiece and shattered the fundraising record set four years earlier by Locke.

Gregoire is well on her way to topping the record again.

At this time in 2002, when Locke was midway through his second term and eyeing another run, he had raised about $208,000. Gregoire raised more than that in June.

As of Aug. 1, Gregoire's campaign committee had raised $960,000 and had $740,000 in the bank, according to the latest filings with state Public Disclosure Commission (PDC). On top of that, the Legacy Fund, a political-action committee controlled by Gregoire, had raised about $245,000.

It's always easier for a sitting governor to raise money, especially when that governor is guaranteed at least two more years in office.

Paul Berendt, former chairman of the state Democratic Party, said it helps that Gregoire has been on a roll in the Legislature.

"A lot of the business leaders around the state see her as someone who is going to make things happen," Berendt said.

Much of Gregoire's money has come from groups that stand to gain from legislation that passed since she took office.

Earlier this year, for instance, lawmakers approved a bill that will give seafood processors more than $2 million a year in tax breaks. Since then, seafood companies and industry executives have given more than $30,000 to Gregoire's campaign.

Last year, Gregoire played a key role in pushing through a landmark $8.5 billion gas-tax package that cleared the way for hundreds of road projects across the state. In the past few months, asphalt-paving companies have given nearly $15,000 to the governor.

One of Gregoire's fundraising pitches has been to remind people about Rossi.

"My opponent ... is campaigning aggressively, raising money and is far ahead of any other prospective Republican challenger," Gregoire said in a recent letter to supporters.

Actually, Rossi hasn't said whether he's running again. He hasn't received any campaign donations since last fall and has no money in the bank, according to his latest PDC filings.

But he has been keeping a high profile.

He has toured the state to promote his self-published autobiography and to appear at campaign events alongside other Republican candidates, such as former Safeco executive Mike McGavick, who is running for U.S. Senate. And Rossi has been raising money for his new nonprofit lobbying group, Forward Washington Foundation.

"Yeah, the election is 2 ½ years off," said Christian Sinderman, a Democratic campaign consultant who has worked for Gregoire.

"But we haven't seen Dino Rossi stop campaigning for five minutes."

Ralph Thomas: 360-943-9882 or rthomas@seattletimes.com