On the eve of Super (duper) Tuesday or whatever we're calling it now, a number of influential Washington state lawmakers plan to today announce their support for Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton. Among them: Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown and fellow Spokane Democratic Sen. Chris Marr. A new poll this morning suggests that Clinton and Obama are "in a dead heat" for the Democratic nomination, according to CNN.

Obama "has this ability to speak beyond partisanship," said Brown, who, like Obama, is an Illinois native.

She said she has no qualms about his experience, the issue that the Clinton campaign has pressed hardest on in recent weeks. Brown cited his work as a community organizer, years in the Illinois state legislature and his stint as a U.S. senator.

"I have a lot of confidence in his ability to inspire the right people to come forward and help him lead the country in a new direction, which is obviously where we need to go," she said.

Clinton has drawn a lot of big-name endorsements from other Washington politicians in recent days. (In fact, when I asked Brown who else would be endorsing Obama today, she said "Sen. Murray -- Sen. Ed Murray") Among those in favor of Clinton: US Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, as well as former Gov. Gary Locke, Rep. Jay Inslee, King County Executive Ron Sims and Snohomish county Executive Aaron Reardon.

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