Gregoire gets more high profile fundraising help

First came a Democratic Presidential candidate who fell short of the mark, as Governor Chris Gregoire announced last week she would host a fundraiser featuring special guest Bill Richardson, the New Mexico Governor and fourth place finisher in the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary.

Now Gregoire has the help of 2004 nominee and Massachusetts Senator John Kerry. PolitickerWA.com has obtained an e-mail sent to Kerry's supporters asking for their financial support to help Gregoire's re-election campaign.

During the legislative fundraising freeze period, Dino Rossi raised a substantial amount of money, coming from far down to almost catch Gregoire in cash on hand. Kerry aims to re-establish Gregoire's early money lead.

The e-mail references the tightly contested 2004 election, even evoking the 5:00 PM recount deadline. It also touches on her main political messages, the environment and children's health care, and makes repeated attempts to tie Dino Rossi to the unpopular George W. Bush.

Kerry also tells supporters that Rossi has the support of the "GOP money machine," and "has been aided and abetted by some big-money GOP donors across the country," a claim Rossi would undoubtedly try to dispute that with his 29,000 donors so far this cycle.

Sen. Kerry's e-mail list is one of the largest in the country, much of its names acquired during his 2004 run for the presidency.