If Mike Roberts was a true democrat he would find another race to run. Rachel Storch is a great representative and democrat leader in Jefferson City. I hope the people who live in her district realize what a gem they have in Rachel. I look for her to go a long way in Missouri politics.

One does not forfeit being a “true Democrat” merely by contesting one’s own state rep in the primary, especially when the seat is in no danger (zero, nada, zilch, none) of having a primary-weakened nominee lose the seat to another party. In this district no other political party even filed a candidate.

The real motive, as everyone knows, is that this contest represents political fallout from the contentious presidential contest. The Roberts family are big Obama backers, unhappy that their state rep served the Clinton campaign in an important capacity. They were further emboldened by the huge margin by which Obama defeated Clinton in this district.

I wonder to what extent Storch will be tarnished by her willingness to associate herself with the “Queen of SLAPP Suits.” Fundraiser host Mandel’s tenure as mayor of Creve Coeur is best known by the large amount of litigation she filed against citizens who challenged her policies. (SLAPP is an acronym for strategic litigation against political participation.) Also, after her move to the big city, Mandel was the center of a black/white controversy when she unsuccessfully sought a position as counsel to the board of aldermen, ultimately filled by an African American attorney.

Actually its not rare for a state party chair to endorse an incumbent in a primary - that’s the default position. Just like Nixon is endorsing all incumbent state reps in primaries.