Patty Murray

DENVER -- The first speaker at this morning's delegation breakfast was the state's senior U.S. Senator, Patty Murray. Notably, much of her words were spent applauding the delegates for the hard work and sacrifice they were making for the good of the party, if not the country.

"I know that all of you, just like me, want to do more than just yell at your television set," Murray said. "That is what this election is about you are participating. Thank you very much."

She said that the participation in the caucuses and the local campaigns have excited her, and commented that they would bring about a new energy in the party that would last.

Things are far more local today following yesterday's star-studded and nationwide breakfast menu. Gone are Howard Dean and Janet Napolitano, replaced by some of Washington's most statured politicians.

Both of the state's U.S. Senators, Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, will speak along with 2nd Congressional District Rep. Rick Larsen .

Washington's Congressional delegation spoke out in favor of today's decision by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates' decision to re-open the bidding process for the Air Force KC-767 tankers. Airbus had won the initial contract, which would have cost the state's economy a significant amount of money, but the process was discovered to be flawed by the Government Accountability Office.

Representatives Brian Baird (D-03), Doc Hastings (D-04) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (D-05) have yet to speak on the matter. Links to and excerpts from the rest of the state's elected officials statements are below.

Third party spending has already been a major issue in the relatively young campaign for governor pitting Gov. Chris Gregoire in a re-match against Republican Dino Rossi. Now, according to a report today by the Seattle Times' David Postman, the game is about to get even more real.

A new left-leaning PAC called Evergreen Progress has been collecting money hand over fist lately from labor unions and the Democratic Governors Assocation who have combined for nearly three quarters of the $1.06 million the group has raised so far.

As for what the group plans on doing with that money, one can guess it will be a lot like what the BIAW has been doing to Gregoire.

Washington's full delegation, with the exception of Rep. Brian Baird (D-Vancouver) spoke out on the Government Accountability Office's decision today to uphold the protest against the decision making process that led to a US Air Force tanker contract to go to Airbus over Boeing earlier this year.

The group unanimously celebrated the GAO's decision because of initial unfairness in the decision making process, and used their statements as an I-told-you-so to those who supported and helped usher the deal through.

"It has been clear all along that the process was flawed, as evidenced by the clear recommendations made by the GAO," said Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Auburn). "This is a great victory for Boeing, Washington state and every American who values our nation's economic and homeland security."

Read all available statements below the jump.

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Check out more images from the convention below the jump.

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels: Politicker Photo

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Senator Patty Murray entered the stage talking up Barack Obama's presidential candidacy, followed by thanking Hillary Clinton for the race she ran. The mention of both candidates received a large amount of applause.

Talking of America's need to "take our country back" Murray said it begins with taking it back for the veterans, and her statement that she voted against the war in Iraq received a standing ovation from nearly the entire room.

It wouldn't be a real "veepstakes" without an elected official from nearly every state in the union being considered by one pundit or another trying to make a career by successfully picking a darkhorse candidate two months in advance. Sure enough the prognosticators, mostly in the blogosphere, have made their way to the Evergreen state, as chronicled by Seattle Times' David Postman.

Politics junkies from around the nation are guessing that Sen. Patty Murray and Gov. Chris Gregoire could be on a long list of potential number twos to Sen. Barack Obama for their various political skills and to balance the ticket with a woman. Even the 9th Congressional District's own Adam Smith, an early backer of the Illinois Senator, is making the rounds.

Still no word from Republicans on Attorney General Rob McKenna or Rep. Dave Reichert for Sen. John McCain, but give it time.

Presidents have (very) occassionaly favored Washingtonians with prominent appointments. Our senators' replies to whether they wanted to be vice president led us to look into other Washingtonians in presidential administrations.

Today the National Abortion & Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL)'s Pro Choice America PAC endorsed Barack Obama for president, citing his pro-choice record and the tenor of his candidacy.

However, the local affiliate here in Washington decided to stay neutral. Like the national chapter they also cited the strong support of both Democratic candidates, but instead used that logic to withhold an endorsement, perhaps because of Hillary Clinton's connection to Sen. Patty Murray.