Claire McCaskill Backs Hillary Clinton 2016 Effort

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) announced her support Tuesday for a super PAC trying to draft former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton into the Democratic presidential race in 2016. With the move, she became the first current member of Congress to back the group, aptly named Ready for Hillary.

"Hillary Clinton had to give up her political operation while she was making us proud, representing us around the world as an incredible Secretary of State, and thats why Ready for Hillary is so critical," McCaskill said in a statement released by the group. "Its important that we start early, building a grassroots army from the ground up, and effectively using the tools of the Internet - all things that President Obama did so successfully - so that if Hillary does decide to run, well be ready to help her win."

Clinton has not announced her plans for 2016. The group has already started holding rallies on her behalf.

McCaskill backed then-candidate Barack Obama over Clinton in January 2008, a huge get for the Illinois senator's campaign. She had said in October 2006 that she wouldn't want her daughter near former President Bill Clinton, a comment for which she later apologized.

McCaskill said in February that she would help Clinton get elected if she decided to seek out the presidency.