Sources: Gregoire Will Not Replace Richardson as Commerce Pick

Aides to President-elect Barack Obama insist Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire will not be named as the new commerce secretary nominee.

The aides told FOX News that "others" are pushing Gregoire's name, but she absolutely is not the candidate to replace New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who dropped his nomination on Sunday in the face of a federal investigation into pay-to-play allegations.

Gregoire had been the buzz late Monday night, a claim enhanced by the fact that she traveled to Washington, D.C., on Sunday night to appear at a pre-congressional forum hosted by The Associated Press but then canceled her appearance after her arrival in town.

Her office issued a statement on Tuesday saying that Gregoire had departed for Iraq to visit Washington Army National Guard troops as part of a gubernatorial delegation that included Govs. John Corzine of New Jersey and Rick Perry of Texas.

"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 and it is with great humility that I acknowledge their critical service for our state and our country," Gregoire said in a written statement.