Commentator/author Dick Morris, who became a household name as an adviser to President Bill Clinton (and who garnered his own 1996 headlines over a prostitute), is heading to St. Louis to headline a reception Monday for Missouri state Treasurer Sarah Steelman’s GOP bid for governor.

The event is to be at 5:30 p.m. at the Racquet Club, 476 North Kingshighway

In an invitation e-mailed to Republicans, Morris said he rarely speaks “on behalf of candidates, but Sarah is a big exception.”

“When it became clear that Iran was trying to develop nuclear weapons, Sarah Steelman was the first state official in the U.S. to ban the investment of her state’s pension funds in any company that does business with Teheran,” Morris says in the statement. “Her courageous action led many other states, including California, Florida, New York, New Jersey, and Louisiana, to follow suit. As a result, Iran is being caught in an increasingly tight economic vice and the growing instability of the regime there is the result.”

“Sarah banned any pension investment in 485 companies that do business with either Iran, Syria, Sudan, or North Korea. They include some of the major glo bal companies like Total, Repsol, Hyundai, Alcatel-Lucent, and BNP Paribas. “

“All told, these 485 companies have invested $188 billion in these terrorist countries. This money helps Iran find and pump more oil, giving the regime the funds to finance its nuclear program and buy social peace at home. About a quarter of the assets of state pension funds in the U.S. are now invested in these companies and Sarah’s action is leading to massive pressure on them to curtail their work in helping state sponsors of terror.”

Morris statement goes on to say that, with Gov. Matt Blunt not seeking re-election, “Steelman has emerged as the only GOP contender with a chance to beat the likely Democratic nominee, State Attorney General Jay Nixon.”

“The other Republican contender, Congressman Kenny Hulshof, is too tied to the Washington establishment to win in Missouri, especially with Congress’ current dismal ratings,” Morris is quoted as saying. “Voters in Missouri often send their state officials to Washington to clean things up, but rarely invite Washington politicians to move to Jefferson City to dirty things up!…”

Morris adds that during his speech, he’ll also ” get into the national race, the future of Hillary and Bill, and whether McCain can win and how. “