Where's Gregoire? Expect an announcement today

OLYMPIA — Gov. Christine Gregoire is out of state, but her office won't say where she is or what she is doing — other than to say she's not going to work for President-elect Obama.

Gregoire's mysterious absence left local political blogs buzzing with speculation that she could be in Washington, D.C., preparing to accept a job with the Obama administration.

Gregoire was on a plane to D.C. on Sunday morning. But Marty Brown, Gregoire's legislative liaison, said the governor's trip has nothing to do with a job in the new administration.

Speculation about Gregoire's whereabouts started after her office called The Associated Press on Monday afternoon to cancel her planned speech Tuesday at a pre-legislative session forum sponsored by the news agency.

Brown will stand in for Gregoire at the forum.

Spokesman Pearse Edwards said Gregoire will be making an announcement Tuesday morning, and no further information would be released before then.