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<< Previous   of   Next >> Michael O'Leary/ The Herald  (click to enlarge) Gov. Christine Gregoire and Michele Obama greet the crowd at a fundraiser for the governor in Seattle.   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Friday, July 18, 2008 Michelle Obama helps Gov. Gregoire Obama speaks at a fundraiser, telling voters, "Don't change it if it's not broken." By Jerry Cornfield Herald Writer SEATTLE -- They paid to help Gov. Chris Gregoire get re-elected but they came to see and hear Michelle Obama. In a 15-minute speech Thursday, the crowd of 1,600 people repeatedly cheered Obama as she wove personal stories about her husband, Sen. Barack Obama, with political objectives of his presidential campaign. Then she focused on Gregoire, describing what the Democratic governor did in her first term as exemplifying the type of "change you can believe in" that's become the theme of Barack Obama's quest for the White House. "The world as it should be is a world that Barack and Chris have been fighting for their entire lives and they are doing it in a way that we haven't seen before," she said to those seated at 160 tables in the Washington Mutual Theater at Qwest Field. "They share the same vision for this country." Michelle Obama called Gregoire a "phenomenal governor" and lauded her for pushing to invest more money in education, provide health care coverage to more children and create more jobs. "I listen to what's going on here and think, 'What are y'all thinking?' This should be over. My recommendation is don't change it if it's not broken," she said. That hit home with Marsha Scutvick of Mill Creek, who is a leading volunteer of the Obama campaign in Snohomish County. "What really struck me in Michelle's speech is what Chris Gregoire delivered these past three years is change we can believe in," she said. Ron Dick of Everett called Obama's speech "fabulous" and "very inspirational." And it too helped the pediatrician better understand Gregoire's track record heading into what he expects will be a very close race with Republican challenger Dino Rossi. "Emphasizing the positives of Gregoire is where they really need to go. Overall, things are better," said Dick, a pediatrician who attended with his wife, Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney Janice Ellis. Rossi spent part of Thursday morning doing an interview on a Seattle radio station. He planned to speak to the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce Thursday night. Earlier this week, he went to Texas where roughly 50 people attended a fundraiser hosted by Republican Gov. Rick Perry. It earned the campaign about $40,000, according to Rossi spokeswoman Jill Strait. Those attending Gregoire's event paid between $200 and $3,200 apiece and lunched on a salad of greens, chicken, walnuts and cheese plus a strawberry-laced dessert. While they applauded for Gregoire, they roared for Obama. Scutvick said though it seemed like an Obama event, the sheer numbers of people who showed up demonstrates his strong supporters are going to be there for the incumbent governor. "Gregoire sealed the deal with all the Obama supporters when she came to KeyArena and she made that endorsement," she said. Strategically, Gregoire is counting on gaining votes from a close association with Barack Obama. Four years ago she didn't latch on to those who cast ballots for Democratic Sen. John Kerry for president and Democratic Sen. Patty Murray for re-election. Kerry won by seven percent and Murray by 12 percent while Gregoire eked out a 133-vote victory. Before Thursday's lunch, some donors, including Dick, Ellis and former Snohomish County Clerk Pam Daniels, met briefly with Michelle Obama. "She's taller than I thought she would be but you know I'm 5-2," Daniels said with a laugh. "She's very warm, very genuine and very real." Those same traits came through in her speech, said Michele Meaker-Pin and Kristine Petereit, both of Everett. Pin said she was moved to tears when Obama talked about her two daughters and the importance of putting family first, even in the stress of a campaign. "She was incredible and inspirational," Pin said. Petereit sat next to Ellis at a table at the front of the room, giving her a close look at the woman who could be the next first lady. "I came to see what keeps (Barack Obama) balanced," she said. "I wanted to see the rock." Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.

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