The news that both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are coming to Seattle this week reminds me of the first person I heard on Super Tuesday saying Washington would emerge as a key state in the Democratic campaign.

That person was U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Bainbridge Island, making the point early Tuesday night on KING-TV.

It seemed so premature, before California had closed its polls, that I thought Inslee was making the typical homer comment, a variant of past hopeful thoughts that our own Dan Evans was going to be veep and other local politicians (Gary, Norm, Ron) were headed toward Cabinet positions in this or that presidential administration.

But as the returns came in, Inslee's early insight proved dead on.

Which made me wonder: How come Inslee is not more of a national figure? The guy is absolutely amazing on camera, has a great instinct for issues of the moment (Internet, global warming, etc.), survived a defeat in office in Eastern Washington and won another seat in Congress in Western Washington, opposed the war, works incredibly hard, moves fast, shakes every hand – and yes, with his incredible good looks, Zoolander himself would approve.

Inslee once came to a party at my house, honoring a mutual friend, and within minutes he had positioned himself at the door, greeting every person who walked in. (He won that year's election, defeating another likable guy at that party, Dan McDonald.) I thought, there's a guy who doesn't take a day off.

So maybe the hard work has paid off, and Jay's time has come. He's going to be veep. Or secretary of Energy. Whatever. The rumor starts here.