EMERSON SEES INTEREST IN A RUN FOR SENATE

Eighth District U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson had his first opportunity last weekend to gauge reaction to his possible entry into next year's Senate race, and he said he was pleased with the response.

"I'm just kind of overwhelmed at what the reaction has been," said Emerson Monday after returning to the nation's capital following a weekend at the annual Missouri Lincoln Day event in Springfield.

With over 1,000 Missouri Republicans on hand, it presented the seven-term House member his first real opportunity to test the political waters with GOP faithful from all parts of Missouri. Three weeks ago Sen. John Danforth announced he would not seek re-election in 1994; a day later Emerson said he planned to consider the race.

"I was struck with the level of interest evidenced in Springfield," said Emerson. "For the most part, people were very positive and offered encouragement. I was struck by that. It made an impression on me."

Emerson and former Gov. John Ashcroft were the two most likely Senate candidates working the crowd, and each offered party faithful new stickers to show their interest.

Emerson has a new, red, white and blue sticker saying Bill Emerson '94. By contrast, Ashcroft was displaying new green-and-white stickers proclaiming "John Ashcroft our winner in '94."

"Our Emerson-'94 thing was designed really to get a reaction," explained the congressman. "Emerson '94 might be a run for re-election to the House. We don't have to throw those stickers away if I do not run for the Senate and decide to run again for the House.

"People are asking, `What does this mean?' So it accomplished its purpose: it was designed to cause people to talk and for me to listen."

Emerson was keynote speaker at a Young Republican breakfast Saturday morning, a commitment he made before Danforth announced his retirement. And, except for brief comments at Saturday night's banquet and participation in a legislative forum, Emerson spent most of his time listening to what people had to say.

Emerson shared a hospitality room with 2nd District U.S. Rep. James Talent of Chesterfield.

Lloyd Smith, chief of staff to Emerson, explained that the statewide Lincoln Day offered a unique opportunity to Emerson to test potential support.

"This was our first opportunity to test the waters, to see what their thoughts were about an Emerson candidacy for the U.S. Senate, and to visit with people from all geographic areas in the state," said Smith.

He said several of Emerson's supporters were asked to visit with people to get feedback. "They were our eyes and ears at Lincoln Day. We asked them to do a little extra effort on our behalf to help sense what people were saying and thinking.

"We haven't asked anyone to ante up and say they are supporting us, but everything we've been getting has been positive," Smith said.

Ashcroft and Emerson talked briefly, but have not sat down and had a detailed discussion about the prospects of a Republican primary race between them. They are friends and get along well, Emerson said.

"We had a cordial chitchat and agreed that we were looking forward to talking in the near future," said Emerson. "I have told him I am looking at it; he has told me he is looking at it. He has not told me he is running and I have not told him I am running."

Emerson has not established a firm timetable for deciding whether to run, but will likely determine a schedule within a month or two.

"We go about these things very systematically; one thing leads to another," said Emerson. "I had a lot of people coaching me over the weekend to go out and declare. But John Danforth legitimately caught me off guard, and I had not been sitting around considering what to do if a Senate opportunity opened. But now I'm running the traps."

Emerson said a number of people wanted to talk with him and invitations to Lincoln Day and other local GOP events around the state are pouring in.

"We're not pushing ourselves on those people. It is a natural development that they are coming to us," said Emerson. "We intend to take it a day at a time for now."

Smith said that within the 8th District Emerson's possible candidacy is getting strong support, though there are concerns over who would replace him in the House.

"We've had a lot of people very interested in Emerson taking a good, solid look at it," said Smith. "We have had calls from all over the state, and a good many calls from all over our district. The calls we have had have been encouraging ... that he look at it, mixed with apprehension that if he did, whether we would have a congressman of Emerson's caliber to replace him.

"They would like for Emerson to be their senator, but they want a good, conservative congressman as well."