EMERSON SECURES SEVENTH TERM WITH VICTORY IN U.S. HOUSE RACE

In a night when Democrats were winning from the White House to the state house, U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson celebrated a Republican victory Tuesday, handily winning re-election to a seventh term.

The Cape Girardeau Republican won in all 26 counties in the 8th District, defeating Democratic challenger Thad Bullock of Cape Girardeau and write-in candidate Harold Reed of Glen Allen.

Two years ago, Emerson won re-election by piling up 57.3 percent of the vote, but the margin was even greater Tuesday night.

The 8th District congressman won 63 percent of the vote to 37 percent for Bullock, unofficial returns show.

Emerson garnered 129,459 votes to 76,191 for Bullock. No vote totals were available for Reed, whose name did not appear on the ballot.

Hundreds of supporters greeted Emerson with loud applause at a victory celebration at the Holiday Inn in Cape Girardeau.

Flanked by family members, Emerson delivered a victory speech at 9:35 p.m., telling supporters that "this is a different kind of election."

Emerson wished president-elect Bill Clinton well, but conceded it was a disappointment the Democratic candidate had captured the White House.

"Of course, it is a disappointment. I would have hoped we would win the presidency and the statewide offices," he said.

Emerson said he believes people wanted to end the gridlock of having a president and Congress controlled by different parties.

Still, he said, the new Congress will be different from the last, with over 100 new members. "I think you will see a House of Representatives that is more independent. We may see a whole new coalition develop there."

Emerson told the crowd, "This is an evening of joy for everyone who has won."

Emerson said he is optimistic about the future for conservative Republicans and Democrats. It's those voters who supported him, he said.

On hand for the victory celebration was Emerson's mother, Marie Hahn, who celebrated her 76th birthday. Emerson said his mother was born on election day, Nov. 3, in 1916.

The crowd sang happy birthday to Hahn as several birthday cakes were wheeled into the room.

Prior to delivering his speech, Emerson told a Southeast Missourian reporter that he felt he had run a "very positive campaign."

Emerson said he would give Clinton "a fair shot" to present his legislative proposals. But he added, "Campaign rhetoric is one thing, but proposing policies and getting them through Congress is another thing."

Emerson refused to speculate about whether he would run again in two years. "I have always said I will take it a term at a time."

The Republican lawmaker, who was first elected to Congress in 1980, has said he believes a conservative Congress is needed to pass a balanced budget bill and provide a line-item veto for the president.

Emerson has repeatedly said that he has won re-election time after time because voters want "good common sense" representation.

This was Bullock's sixth attempt to win the congressional seat, but his first general election. He entered the congressional races in 1968, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, and again this year. He lost in the primary in his five previous attempts, but won in the Democratic primary this year.

And the former piano store owner said Tuesday night he may run again in two years.

Bullock said he failed to get his message across in the election campaign, and the news media generally supported Emerson. "I think the media is predominantly Republican," he said.

Bullock had focused on three issues: the economy, the need for national health care and the need for deserving students to receive a college education.

He said Emerson outspent him in the election campaign by a wide margin. Bullock said he only spent $6,500 on the congressional race.

Bullock said he had hoped more Democratic voters would have voted a straight ticket. But that didn't occur, with Emerson garnering votes from many Democrats.