Smith Joins Koster at Announcement
St. Louis State Senator Jeff Smith was by Chris Koster’s side today as the Harrisville senator announced his crossover to the Democratic Party this morning in Columbia.
“Sen. Chris Koster is one of the most respected and capable members of the Missouri Senate,” said Smith in a written statement. “For him to change political party shows that Republicans are in trouble.”
Smith is responsible for leading Senate Democratic Campaign efforts for the 2008 elections. His involvement with Koster may ruffle the feathers of some in his party if Koster jumps into the Democratic Primary for Attorney General as he is expected to announce later today.
In another Smith-Koster connection, Elisabeth Smith, Jeff Smith’s girlfriend and a former staffer to U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, is handling communications for Koster. (Readers may recall this great video featuring a victory kiss between the Smiths on Election Night 2006.)
“The Republican Party has become anti-research, anti-working families and anti-progress – while Democrats seek to move Missouri forward, Republicans want to hold our state back. Sen. Koster’s decision to leave the GOP is another sign that Republicans have become out-of-touch with the average Missourian,” said Senator Smith.
Koster’s change in party brings the number of Democrats in the Senate to 14 Democrats, with 19 Republicans and 1 vacancy.
And fueling allegations by Republicans of a Koster-Nixon conspiracy is a report from a source at this morning’s Columbia announcement that Chuck Hatfield, Jay Nixon’s former chief of staff, not only attended the event but physically carried the podium behind which Koster made his historic announcement.
Just a reminder: Koster will hold a press conference in St. Louis today at 3:00 p.m. in front of St. Louis University High School. Check PubDef.net later today for video.
UPDATE: No video. SLUH shooed us off.
About This Author: Antonio D. French is a writer, political consultant, and newly-elected Democratic Committeeman living in north St. Louis, Missouri. If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
How can Jeff be so dumb as to think the majority of his colleagues will see this as a victory? He has less respect than ever among them. When will his supporters see the real Smith?
I gues it pays to have an in-house spinster.
Jeff is immune to understanding the contempt people have for him. His common sense is with his wallet, and we know he doesn’t carry that around on him.
There may be some who don’t like him but hey he almost beat a Carnahan and then won a tough Senate race. Must be some people who like him.
But for how long? Trust this anonymous when I say, “the support ain’t the same, especially after Donayle, charters, too much apprehension and dumb moves overall.”
Is Smith a Repug? He sure votes like one, acts like one, and even smells like one. Smith is a Repug.
SMITH AND HATFIELD ARE SELLOUTS!!!!
AT LEAST A REPUBLICAN IS A REPUBLICAN.
SMITH AND KOSTER ARE SUCH FLIP-FLOOPERS WITH THEIR WISHY-WASHY BS IT MAKES ME WANT TO VOTE REPUBLICAN.
Is Smith counting this as a vicory for the Democratic Senitorial Campaign Committee?
You have to admit having republicans flip to democrats is much cheeper than having an election.