Gov. Chris Gregoire, who the White House says is on the list of potential candidates to fill the role of solicitor general if Elena Kagan is confirmed to be a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, said she'd have to consider the post if it were offered to her. But she also called any talk of her being offered the job "totally premature."

"Elena Kagan has a long process to go through, and while I think she is eminently well qualified, and I expect her to be confirmed, there are no guarantees," said Gregoire, who was at the ribbon-cutting of Nintendo's new U.S. headquarters building in Redmond on Thursday.

Among lawyers, the job of solicitor general is known as the "tenth justice" of the Supreme Court, Gregoire noted. "It's a big deal, it's a big deal," she said, adding that she was humbled to be mentioned as a potential candidate.

Gregoire said no one in Washington has contacted her about the post, and emphasized that she's committed to staying in Washington as the state struggles through the economic downturn.

"What would you do if the president of the United States asked you to serve?" Gregoire asked. "I have never had the experience, so I don't know what one does. But I really am committed to seeing us through this (economic) crisis."

If Gregoire did leave, Lt. Gov. Brad Owen would succeed her as governor in the short term. How would she feel about that?

"I love Brad, but you know, it's a tough time to be governor," Gregoire said. "I'm in touch with all the former governors and nobody's got any advice for me because nobody's been through this...it would be a real challenge to come in and take over in the middle of a crisis, for anybody."