The Obama Jinx! Endorsed by Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire

You heard of the Jessica Simpson Tony Romo jinx, and maybe even the Gisele Bundchen Tom Brady curse.  Now comes the Obama jinx courtesy of Washington State Governor Chris Gregoire.

Okay, so we won't know if Gregoire has jinxed Obama's campaign just yet but it certainly can't help his cause that she has endorsed the 2008 US Presidential candidate.

Gambling911.com has identified Ms. Gregoire as rated 11 on a scale of 1 to 10 potential "jinx" magnets, right up there with Jessica Simpson. 

Obama, an avid poker player, would actually be charged with a Class C Felony if he were to engage in the activity online while in Washington this weekend for that state's Caucus.  That's because Gregoire pushed a law that makes it a criminal offense to gamble online - the online state to do so.  This includes betting on last weekend's most watched ever Super Bowl. 

Her move, while allowing state-run casinos to operate and placing bets herself on Seahawks games - has so inflamed Washington State residents that at least one has decided to run against Gregoire as Governor utilizing the online poker platform. 

 “I’m just upset beyond words that a law like that in a country like this could become a law. It’s just flat out wrong," said Lee Rousso, an attorney who threw his name into the hat for state Governor.

“You just can’t even find people who think that this law is a good idea. Even people who are opposed to gambling in general recognize that this law goes way, way, way too far,” Rousso added.

That includes the major Seattle newspapers, which lashed out at Gregoire's administration at the time this new measure was passed into law.  At the time of the measure's passage, some of the major newspapers questioned whether they themselves could become targets of Gregoire's new legislation as they were featuring a poker column that included a link to an online poker room. 

These are also the same papers that last week considered Ron Paul the frontrunner to win the Republican race in their state.  Despite taking a beating during the Super Tuesday voting frenzy, Paul has vowed to stay in the race and it could very well be that none of the John McCain supporters even bother to come out and vote.  Ron Paul, a popular long term Texas Congressman, condemns any form of online gambling prohibition and this platform has now resonated with Washington State residents who are fed up that they cannot engage in their favorite activity. 

"My buddy in Oregon won all this money betting the Giants in last week's Super Bowl and this is money he and millions of others will be using to help boost the economy," said Joe, a disgusted Washington State resident.  In fact, $2.6 million has been paid out to Super Bowl bettors from Vegas alone.  Talk about an economic stimulus package.

Obama, meanwhile, won the last-minute endorsement Friday of Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire, only the second female governor of the state. Both candidates had courted her - Obama speaking with her four times.

"He is leading us toward a positive feeling of hope in our country and I love seeing that happen," she said. Washington's senators, both women, back Clinton.

For the record, Obama advocates a study into the impact of regulated online gambling while ensuring that such activity does not result in the disintegration of urban communities. 

Hillary Clinton should be grateful.  Poor Barack Obama!

We like Obama.  But so far we are 2-0 with when it comes to these "jinxes". 

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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher CCostigan@CostiganMedia.com

Originally published February 8, 2008 2:10 pm EST