Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, (D-Mo) has been very active lately in her support of the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. Barack Obama, (D-Ill.).

The Missouri Democrat has readily appeared on nationwide television and radio broadcasts, touting the benefits and reasons why Obama should be the nation’s next president.

According to a story in Wednesday’s Post-Dispatch, her increasing prominence as one of a handful of top surrogates in Obama’s presidential bid is increasingly being asked to appear on TV and campaign-trail appearances, as well as behind-the-scenes advice.

“She’s someone we have no hesitance in putting on TV or on the road because she understands and reflects the message of this campaign perfectly,” said David Axelrod, Obama’s chief campaign adviser. “She makes sense. She doesn’t sound like the typical Washington palaver.”

 “She was with him early. She reaches out to women, which he needs to do after defeating Hillary Clinton and she’s from a swing border state,” said Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.

Peter Fenn, a Democratic strategist not affiliated with the Obama campaign, said McCaskill’s surprise endorsement last January helped cement her role in the operation.

All this has created new rumors about her prospects as a vice presidential candidate, and she’s repeatedly appeared on lists of possible choices.

Will Claire McCaskill be a plus or a minus for Obama’s campaign?