CARNAHAN `FIRED UP' BY CLINTON-GORE

NEW YORK - As a potential Democratic nominee for governor of Missouri, Lt. Gov. Mel Carnahan said Tuesday he is excited about the prospects of running with the Clinton-Gore ticket this fall.

"We are all fired up about this ticket," said Carnahan from the St. Moritz On The Park Hotel in New York City, where the Missouri delegation is staying. "We believe this is a ticket we can elect."

Carnahan, who is in a hotly contested race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination with St. Louis Mayor Vince Schoemehl, has taken a few days out of his campaign to attend the Democratic National Convention. He plans to return to the state today.

Carnahan said it was tough to decide whether to take a few days in the heat of the campaign to attend the convention, but it has been time well spent because much of what is being echoed at the national level is the theme in Missouri.

"I think the theme of this convention is very much one for change to build a better future; to have a plan to get the country back on track," said Carnahan. "We do that by doing a better job in education and job creation. Those themes are so extremely important to the state of Missouri.

"We are also talking about 12 years of do-nothing government in the state, much like what we have had under the Reagan-Bush period."

With Bill Clinton from Arkansas and Albert Gore from Tennessee - both states bordering Missouri - the two candidates are already well known to Missourians and are speaking out on issues of importance to the state, he said.

Carnahan believes that Democrats can run well in Missouri this year because the Clinton-Gore ticket offers the kind of choice that will get Democrats back in the fold who have abandoned the party in recent years because they feel the party has left them.

"You've got people who have departed from voting on the Democratic side that I think will be coming back in significant numbers," said Carnahan.

But for now the Rolla Democrat said he will be focusing his efforts on winning the nomination.

"Our plans are all made in Missouri. I think I've got the edge and am going to keep it and win. I have always felt like if we can be competitive in the final TV campaign and publicity campaign we can win. I'm in that position and have worked hard for it. We're very optimistic."

When Carnahan first began his run for governor, he anticipated having to run on a ticket against a popular Republican president.

"I thought I could win in that atmosphere. You can imagine how elated I am with this whole turn of events," he said. "To have this kind of team with a good chance of carrying Missouri is very positive for me.

"I thought I could win this uphill against Republican coattails. I don't have to face that any more."