Parties scramble to prepare for 2004 (WA Governor race) | Seattle Times

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Tuesday, July 22, 2003 - Page updated at 09:24 A.M.

Parties scramble to prepare for 2004

By David Postman
Seattle Times chief political reporter

OLYMPIA — In what emerged as the first day of the 2004 governor's race yesterday, Democrats were worried about talking potential candidates out of running to replace Gov. Gary Locke while Republicans still lacked even one candidate.

Leaders of both parties have the same goal: to get their party quickly united behind one strong candidate and avoid a bruising primary election. So far, only two candidates, both Democrats, are definitely running.

Attorney General Christine Gregoire announced her candidacy within minutes of Locke's announcement that he wouldn't seek a third term. Former Supreme Court Justice and state Sen. Phil Talmadge has been running for months — the only Democratic candidate who had been willing to run against Locke.

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