3 governors visit troops in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Three U.S. governors, Jon Corzine of New Jersey, Christine Gregoire of Washington and Rick Perry of Texas, were in Iraq meeting soldiers Tuesday.

The governors' trip was kept secret for security reasons until after their arrival, the Seattle Times reported. In Washington, that raised speculation that Gregoire might be in line for a job in President-elect Barack Obama's administration.

"In August, I had the honor of participating in the farewell ceremony for the Washington Army National Guard troops in Yakima as they left to serve Operation Iraqi Freedom. I promised I would visit them," Gregoire

said in a statement released Tuesday.

Perry and Corzine also met with National Guard members from their states.

The trip was a bipartisan one. Corzine and Gregoire are Democrats, Perry a Republican.