EMERSON DECIDES NOT TO RUN FOR U.S. SENATOR

Eighth District U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson said Saturday that he had decided not to run for the United States Senate seat now held by John Danforth.

Emerson had been giving the race serious consideration since Feb. 1, when Danforth made his surprise announcement that he would not seek re-election. As part of his decision-making process, Emerson traveled around Missouri, conducted a poll, talked with potential campaign consultants, and evaluated financial resources.

But the seven-term congressman said in a brief statement that he finally concluded that the time was not right for him to make the statewide race.

"Many, many factors go into the process of making these kinds of decisions, not the least of which is one's consideration about what is right for one's family at a given point in time," said Emerson. "I don't think it is right for mine.

"The time spent campaigning and raising money statewide in the midst of a term in the House to which one has been elected would detract greatly from the job one has been elected to do. I wouldn't be comfortable with that."

Emerson's announcement will apparently leave former governor John Ashcroft without a serious challenger in the Republican primary for the Senate seat in August.

Emerson made no mention of his plans for re-election in the announcement, though most believe the Republican lawmaker will now seek another two-year term in 1994. Throughout his process of evaluating the Senate race, Emerson said he had three options under consideration: re-election to the House, the Senate race, and retirement.

Lloyd Smith, Emerson's chief of staff, said the congressman has generally made re-election announcements closer to the start of filing. Filing for offices on next year's ballot in Missouri won't start until February.

"At this point he is making a statement about the Senate, and at some future point, he will make a decision and statement about Congress," Smith said.

He added that at this point Emerson has not made a final decision on whether to run again.

Emerson explained that prior to Danforth's announcement he had assumed the senator would seek a fourth term and had not given the race any thought.

"My view had been that Missouri has two good, fine United States senators and we ought to keep them. (Danforth's) decision, however, altered the playing field," said Emerson. After receiving a lot of encouragement, Emerson said he agreed to give the race a serious evaluation.

"This I have done, and I have been greatly encouraged by the sentiment and expressions of support tendered to me. For all of this I am grateful. It is tempting; I have labored hard in coming to the conclusion I have now reached," Emerson said.

Emerson, 55, said that ultimately it came down to asking himself whether this is what he wanted to do at this point in life.

"For all of my wrestling with this particular question for the past many months, I have been unable to give myself an unalterable `yes.' I reached `maybe' but not `yes,' and to delay further a public statement of my intentions would be unfair to others and to the political process."

He said: "My thanks go to everyone who offered help, support, counsel and friendship throughout the process. Those generous considerations have meant and will always mean a great deal to me."

Emerson was first elected to Congress in 1980 when he defeated six-term Democrat Bill D. Burlison.