On a national level, the economy continues to struggle, but Washington has remained resilient through the turbulent times, Governor Christine Gregoire said during an appearance Wednesday in King County.

While 30 states face troubled budgets, many in deficits, Washington is in a surplus, the governor said. She pointed to two main components of the success: Economic development and education.

“We have been trying to emphasize our opportunity of imports and exports. and the results have been amazing,” Gregoire said.

Education, she said, is the key to the success of the workforce for today and for the future of the state.

During her term in office, she said, more than 200,000 new jobs have been put in place and the state has doubled its exports. Forbes magazine recently named Washington one of the top five states for doing business.

Gregoire, who spoke at a meeting of Overlake Rotary Club in Bellevue, is in a hard-fought race for re-election this fall. The first-term Democrat’s main challenger is Republican Dino Rossi, who lost to Gregoire in a disputed 2004 election that went to a recount.