If Hillary Clinton runs for president in 2016, she'll have at least one high-profile supporter from Missouri.
U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, the Democrat who got national attention for her race against Todd Akin of "legitimate rape" fame, this morning formally endorsed a 2016 Clinton bid through Ready for Hillary, an independent group that is, well, ready for Hillary to run.
"Hillary Clinton had to give up her political operation while she was making us proud, representing us around the world as an incredible Secretary of State, and that's why Ready for Hillary is so critical," McCaskill says in the statement. "It's important that we start early, building a grassroots army from the ground up, and effectively using the tools of the Internet -- all things that President Obama did so successfully -- so that if Hillary does decide to run, we'll be ready to help her win."
The group says that McCaskill is the first sitting member of Congress to endorse the effort.
Ready for Hillary, the super-PAC that supports Clinton but is technically not affiliated with any potential campaign, emphasizes that McCaskill was "an early Obama '08 supporter."
"We are incredibly grateful to have Senator McCaskill's support in this effort," Craig Smith, a Ready for Hillary senior advisor, says in a statement. "Like Hillary, Senator McCaskill is a fighter -- dedicated in her efforts to strengthen accountability in government -- and a champion for women, children, and families. Ready for Hillary is fortunate to have such a powerful and respected leader like Claire joining our grassroots team."
The announcement from McCaskill does not come as a surprise. The senator earlier this year said that she hopes the former secretary of state runs.
Here's the full press release announcing her endorsement:
U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO), an Early Obama '08 Supporter, Announces Support of Ready for HillaryMCLEAN, VA - Today, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri, an early backer of then-Sen. Obama's 2008 primary campaign, announced her support of Ready for Hillary. Sen. McCaskill is the first sitting member of Congress to endorse the effort.
McCaskill, who said in February that she hopes Hillary Clinton will run for president, described the Ready for Hillary effort as "critical" to electing the former Secretary of State, should she decide to run in 2016.
"Hillary Clinton had to give up her political operation while she was making us proud, representing us around the world as an incredible Secretary of State, and that's why Ready for Hillary is so critical," McCaskill said. "It's important that we start early, building a grassroots army from the ground up, and effectively using the tools of the Internet - all things that President Obama did so successfully - so that if Hillary does decide to run, we'll be ready to help her win."
Sen. McCaskill commended Ready for Hillary for embracing the early supporters of then-Sen. Obama, saying, "They aren't only reaching out to folks who supported Hillary in 2008. They're helping to show that regardless of who you supported for President back then, we can all agree today that there is nobody better equipped to be our next President than Hillary Clinton."
"We are incredibly grateful to have Senator McCaskill's support in this effort," said Ready for Hillary Senior Advisor Craig T. Smith. "Like Hillary, Senator McCaskill is a fighter - dedicated in her efforts to strengthen accountability in government - and a champion for women, children, and families. Ready for Hillary is fortunate to have such a powerful and respected leader like Claire joining our grassroots team."
Ready for Hillary is the nation's premier independent group urging former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to run for president in 2016. RFH is working to lay the groundwork by assembling an army of grassroots Hillary supporters and building an organization to support her potential candidacy. We believe that Hillary Clinton is the best qualified person to be President in 2016 and her historic election would build upon the progress of President Obama and continue to lead this country into the future.
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