Storch to do two jobs: state director for HRC’s prez campaign, head of state HDCC
This just in from the presidential campaign for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.:
State Rep. Rachel Storch, D-St. Louis, has been hired to be Clinton’s Missouri state director as her campaign gears up for the Feb. 5 primary.
âI’m delighted that Rachel will lead our efforts in Missouri,” Clinton said in a statement. âWith her help, we’ll take our message of change across the Show Me State.”
“Rachel is a highly respected legislator who brings a deep knowledge of Missouri and its people to this campaign,” said U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Kansas City, in a statement. “With Rachel’s hire, Hillary is making good on a promise she made to the people of Missouri: the senator will make the investments needed to compete and win here. Hillary wisely recognizes the importance of Missouri as a bellwether state and is putting down roots here that will bear fruit.”
Storch was first elected to the state in 2004, and currently is Deputy Whip of the Democratic Caucus. She serves on the Budget, Ways and Means, and Appropriations for Transportation and Economic Development Committees.
Prior to joining the Legislature, Storch was Deputy Chief of Staff for then-U.S. Sen. Jean Carnahan and legal counsel and policy director for former state Sen. Ken Jacob, D-Columbia, during his stint as minority leader.
âI am proud to join this campaign, because America needs change, and Hillary Clinton has the strength and experience to deliver it,” Storch said. âWe’re going to run an aggressive campaign throughout Missouri and I’m eager to get to work.”
UPDATE:
Storch says her commitment with Clinton is through the Feb. 5 primary. As a result, Storch plans to remain as head of the state House Democratic Campaign Committee.
Storch said she didn’t see a conflict, and noted that a number of other state legislators, including Jake Zimmermann and Mike Talboy, hold key posts with the HDCC and are actively involved.
Her role with the HDCC “enhances” her new job with Clinton, Storch said, adding that “we’re going to be working to coordinate resources” with whoever is the Democratic presidential nominee.
For example, Storch noted that Feb. 5 is also the date for three special elections for three state House seats — in St. Charles, St. Louis and Cape Girardeau.
Here, via the Columbia Tribune and Pubdef, is Storch’s Dec. 2 speech at Clinton’s fundraiser/rally at the Pageant.
Rachel is one of the smartest and most decent people I’ve met, in public life and elsewhere. I have so much respect for her that I volunteered for her first campaign, even though I disagree with almost everything she stands for. I simply believed, as I still do, that our state is made better when people of her caliber hold public office.
Having said this, I must confess that I wish Rachel nothing but total failure in this particular endeavor. My prediction: Clinton will win the Democratic primary in Missouri. How she does in the general depends upon how lousy a nominee the Republicans end up with.
Wow….I totally agree with you, Nick, on this one. Wow! Amazing, isn’t it?
I thought Storch was GREAT in “F Troop!”
Actually, it may turn out to be a conflict of interest, if the state House candidates with whom Rep. Storch is attempting to “coordinate resources” would rather not be tarred with the Hillary brush in places like St. Charles and Cape Girardeau, where it will hurt them. Lets hope the association with Hillary doesn’t cost anybody their race, that would be cruel irony for an HDCC head.
This is a pretty stupid move. Hillary polls terrible in rural America. It’s questionable for the chair of the House Democratic Campaign Committee to be tying herself to someone who clearly will drag the majority of her candidates down. Apparently Rachel is willing to put her ego and vanity above House Democrats.
Democrats won’t lose the StL City district; Michele Kratky is running unopposed.
The other two seats are Republican vacancies. There’s an interesting twist in one of them. In the Cape district (vacated by Nathan Cooper), Republican Mary Kasten (former Cape mayor and a former state rep) is opposed by both a Democrat and a Libertarian, and the Libertarian bears the last name Kinder, same as the Republican Lt. Gov. who represented Cape in the state senate prior to his statewide election. A Libertarian with the last name of Emerson (same as the GOP congresswoman from that area) polled nearly 6% from that county in 2004, more than double what any other Libertarian polled there in that election. Special elections are always tricky animals, and this one will be trickier than usual.
Rachel is a rising star in the Democrat party. She’s a proven leader. I think the House Democrats and Hillary’s campaign will greatly benefit from her efforts.
Now, Happy Pants … you KNOW that it was LARRY Storch who was in “F Troop,” the critically acclaimed documentary *cough* from yesteryear.
The same Larry Storch that started the “Larry Storch School of Acting” in Chicago, which was so prominently displayed when one of his best prodigies, Kelly Bundy, chose to attend.
Ahhh, ya gotta love those old TV shows!
One hopes that State Rep. Rachel Storch, D-St. Louis, can find the time to perform the duties for which she was elected.
Oh Bob!
This is kind of the “off season” for State Reps, so your concerns are a bit unfounded.