Gregoire’s whereabouts a mystery

OLYMPIA — Do you know where Gov. Chris Gregoire spent the last two days?

We’ll likely find out early today when an official statement is expected to be made on her whereabouts.

But her disappearing act ignited a frantic guessing game Monday stretching from this Capitol to the nation’s capital and into the far reaches of the blogosphere on where she could be.

It all started when her office called the Associated Press to cancel her scheduled appearance today at the news agency forum for reporters on the upcoming legislative session.

Soon after swirls of speculation became tornadoes of rumors unleashed by a phalanx of reporters and assortment of bloggers.

Some had her in Washington, D.C., awaiting an appointment to President-elect Barack Obama’s administration or picking up a check to fix the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

Others postulated she’s dealing with a health matter.

One political insider who didn’t know joked anyway that she had flown to France to convince owners of Areva to build its uranium enrichment plant in Washington, not Idaho.

Another explanation is she is traveling in a war zone or an area under the control of the military.

Her communications director Pearse Edwards said she departed Sunday evening and is out of state. She left alone and he said he did not know when she’s returning.

That’s the type of language used by staff members of congressional leaders when their bosses are headed to Iraq or Afghanistan or some other overseas destination.

Wherever she is, Gregoire is rumored and reported to be planning to make an announcement of some sort, possibly via satellite, and definitely this morning.

Count on some of that being true.

Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.