ST. LOUIS (AP) -- St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley is throwing his support behind presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

Dooley announced the endorsement in a news release late Monday. He says he is inspired by the movement the Illinois Democrat has begun.

Dooley is a Democrat and the highest ranking official in Missouri's largest county, with about 1 million residents.

Obama has also received endorsements from Democratic Reps. William Lacy Clay and Russ Carnahan, both of St. Louis.

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay has endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y. Other Missourians endorsing Clinton include former House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt and Rep. Emanuel Cleaver of Kansas City.