BOB DOLE WINS MOST DELEGATES

The race is over, but supporters of Pat Buchanan aren't standing on the sidelines.

Buchanan loyalists battled Bob Dole supporters Saturday in nine congressional district caucuses across Missouri to select delegates to the GOP national convention in San Diego.

Dole won 14 delegates to 11 for Buchanan. Alan Keyes picked up two delegates.

Twenty-seven alternates also were selected.

Missouri's nine remaining delegates will be elected at large during the state GOP convention in Springfield next month.

Saturday's outcome was one of Buchanan's best showings since the conservative commentator won the New Hampshire primary in February.

The outcome reflected Buchanan's strength in earlier county caucuses.

Buchanan hasn't done much campaigning since conceding the inevitability of Dole's nomination. But that hasn't dampened the enthusiasm of Buchanan supporters, many of whom are new to politics.

More than 200 delegates and alternates turned out for the 8th District caucus at the Cape Girardeau Holiday Inn Saturday afternoon.

The divisive meeting lasted four hours, with political-button-wearing Buchanan and Dole supporters arguing over rules and procedures at every turn.

In the end, Dole won two delegates to one for Buchanan.

The Dole delegates are Denver Cook of Salem and Reid Forrester of Poplar Bluff. Bob Schwartz of Bonne Terre narrowly won a spot as a Buchanan delegate.

Schwartz said Buchanan people want their candidate's anti-abortion, conservative message heard. "We want his views brought to the platform," said Schwartz, a newcomer to politics and a candidate for sheriff of St. Francois County.

Buchanan backers believe Dole won't beat President Clinton without their support. Many of the Buchanan supporters Saturday wore stickers that read: "You can't win without us."

Buchanan supporter Julia Kridelbaugh of Cape Girardeau said Dole needs to listen to grassroots, conservative Americans.

"We cannot be ignored," she said. "We need to be counted in San Diego."

At one point during lengthy debate, Cook urged the caucus crowd to act like adults. "I think we are acting like children," he said.

Donna Lichtenegger, caucus chairman and a Dole supporter, said she hopes Republicans will unite this fall.

"I hope that when it is all said and done, everybody will close ranks," said the Jackson woman, who was selected as one of the alternates.

"The message is that we need to support the Republican candidate for president of the United States. It is either that or Bill Clinton," she said.

Across the state, Buchanan backers made it clear they wanted their candidate to have a major role in the GOP convention in August.

"If the party does give him prime television time and if the pro-life plank stays in the platform, our people will give the party a chance," said Missouri coordinator John Brunner.

"If that doesn't happen, the party might be in trouble," he said.

The Associated Press provided some information for this story.