Emerson aide to help Talent campaign

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Lloyd Smith, a heavy hitter in Republican politics in Southeast Missouri, will run Jim Talent's campaign for the U.S. Senate.

Smith, of Sikeston, Mo., is the chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau. He also held that position under Emerson's husband and predecessor, the late Bill Emerson.

Smith said he will assist Talent on a part-time basis while working for Emerson during the next few months.

"My goal is to help him get his campaign focused," Smith said. "Sometime next spring I will move over full time to his campaign."

Smith said Emerson has agreed to allow him some flexibility in his schedule, giving him the opportunity to work for Talent at night and on weekends.

First statewide effort

While Smith directed several of the Emersons' campaigns in Missouri's 8th Congressional District, this will be his first statewide campaign. "I'm kind of excited about it," Smith said.

Rich Chrismer, a Talent spokesman, said deputy campaign manager Jen Woodbury will be in charge of day-to-day operations until Smith joins the campaign full time.

"We are pleased to have his assistance," Chrismer said. "He will be a great asset to the campaign."

Talent, a former four-term Republican congressman from St. Louis County, announced Tuesday that he will challenge U.S. Sen. Jean Carnahan, a Democrat, in November 2002. Talent lost his bid for governor last year by a margin of less than 1 percent to Democrat Bob Holden.

Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, is a longtime friend and political associate of Smith's. Kinder said Talent made a strong first move in his election effort by bringing Smith on board.

"I think he already sent a wonderful signal by hiring the best man for the job -- Lloyd Smith," Kinder said.

Missouri Democratic Party officials couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday.

Changed landscape

Since going to work for Bill Emerson in 1981, Smith has been a key player in transforming the political landscape of Southeast Missouri.

Smith helped Emerson build a powerful and effective political organization that helped to steadily shift the region, once overwhelmingly Democratic save for a few counties, into the GOP column. The Emerson network, which continues under Jo Ann Emerson, has been credited with helping Republican candidates claim statehouse seats once considered unwinnable by the GOP.

Dr. Peter Bergerson, chairman of the political science department at Southeast Missouri State University, said Smith could be valuable in building rural support for Talent.

"It appears one thing Talent has in mind is he wants to focus on rural areas, and that would be Lloyd's forte," Bergerson said. "I think he's one of the best in having a vision, having a plan and getting the people together to be successful."

Carnahan was appointed to serve the first two years of the six-year term posthumously won by her husband, Gov. Mel Carnahan. Gov. Carnahan died in a plane crash three weeks before Election Day. He was challenging then-U.S. Sen. John Ashcroft, a Republican, for the seat.

The winner of next year's election will serve a four-year term. Carnahan hasn't yet announced her intention to run but is raising campaign contributions.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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