EMERSON TESTS STATE SUPPORT FOR SENATE BID

Like most good sons this weekend, U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson set aside time to be with his mother. But when he's not spending time with his mother in Cape Girardeau, the seventh-term Republican congressman will be traveling outside the 8th District to continue assessing his chances of running for the U.S. Senate next year.

Since Republican Sen. John Danforth announced Feb. 1 that he would not seek a fourth term in 1994, Emerson has been contemplating the statewide race. His interest in the idea is growing.

Emerson characterizes his efforts to this point as being more of a "listener," but he is quick to point out that his response has been good. He is preparing to make more visits around the state and will do some polling among state Republicans later this spring.

"Basically, I have been listening," said Emerson Saturday afternoon. "The only promotion I am doing is accepting speaking engagements and responding to calls. I haven't been on the phone calling people up saying, `wouldn't it be great if I decided to run for the Senate,' but I have been listening to all the people who have been talking about it.

"Frankly, I have been getting some pretty good encouragement," Emerson added. "There are some pretty prominent people offering to help me raise money and who say they have organizational components they would like to lend to my prospective Senate race. But I just haven't done anything so far that one could construe as being promotional. But, I have talked with about everyone who has wanted to visit with me and have agreed to take certain things a step further."

Emerson's chief of staff, Lloyd Smith, explained that the congressman is assessing the race and making contacts in different parts of the state.

"He is making some personal appearances this weekend related to assessing his chances and what people are thinking in other parts of the state," said Smith, adding that his appearances are focused not only on seeking financial help but potential "foot soldiers" to help in a campaign.

Emerson flew to St. Louis from Washington, D.C., Friday and drove to Cape Girardeau to spend Friday night and part of Saturday with his mother. Saturday night he attended a reception in St. Louis held by the Missouri Homebuilders Association. He then moved to Columbia for meetings today with people Smith termed "political heavyweights."

This afternoon, Emerson will be at Westminster College in Fulton, his alma mater, to introduce Ambassador Smith Hempstone, who is commencement speaker there. Emerson will be conferring an honorary degree on the ambassador for the school.

He will return to Washington on Monday.

Smith noted that Emerson has had meetings with potential consultants and pollsters to discuss what they felt it would take to win both a primary and general election in 1994.

Emerson said he will likely do polling in late May and early June to gauge support. His polling firm will continue to be American Viewpoints, headed by Linda Divall, who is regarded as one of the nation's top GOP pollsters and a frequent guest on political talk shows.

Smith said Divall has worked for Emerson since 1984. She was involved in statewide polling in Missouri last year for Republican gubernatorial candidate Roy Blunt.

Former Gov. John Ashcroft, now an attorney in Clayton, drew some attention last month when he formed an exploratory committee to help him decide whether to seek the GOP Senate nomination. Emerson and Smith say some are viewing that as a declaration of candidacy, which is an incorrect assumption.

Under federal campaign finance laws, Ashcroft had to form a federal campaign committee before he could begin raising and spending funds to aid him in making a Senate decision. Emerson, however, already has his "Friends of Bill Emerson" campaign committee, which could become a Senate committee.

Emerson said he is aware that Ashcroft is now calling potential supporters about a Senate race, but he declined to predict an Ashcroft candidacy.

"I'm highly certain that Gov. Ashcroft is very serious about a Senate race," said Emerson. "I would not presume to speak for him, but I have every reason to believe he's very serious about it."

Emerson said he does not feel a great deal of pressure to make a decision right away, but he anticipates making one around mid-summer.

But Smith noted, "Privately, his own decision time would have to be sooner than that, probably by June 15, with public intentions known by the August congressional recess. That is just my speculation though, because ultimately, he makes all the decisions."

Emerson points out that he had not been considering a Senate race prior to this year because he expected Danforth to run again. Once Danforth announced he was going to retire, Emerson began taking a look.

He has spoken on the Lincoln Day circuit, both in the 8th District and outside of it, and admits to being a bit surprised at his base of support from across the state. Even in Jackson and Clay counties, where Emerson is relatively unknown, he has received some interest and plans a trip there soon.

Another source of support has come from Republican members of the Missouri General Assembly. "A lot of state legislators have indicated a high level of interest," Emerson noted.

"I've been very encouraged by what I've heard so far, and honored by all the offers of support."

Emerson established himself as a major player in the Senate race on Feb. 19-21 at the statewide Republican Lincoln Day event in Springfield. A group of Emerson's supporters showed up with signs, banners and stickers proclaiming: "Bill Emerson `94," which apparently left some Republicans with an impression that there might be an alternative to Ashcroft in the Senate race.

Said Smith: "It has been almost unanimous from the people we have heard from, that they think Bill is doing the right thing by looking at this race. There is a lot of interest in his candidacy from Republican strongholds around the state."

Because he feels too much time is spent on political campaigns, Emerson does not want to make a decision too early. He is confident that the kind of support he is lining up now will enable him to build a solid organization quickly if he decides to make the Senate race.

"I think it's still early yet," said Emerson. "A lot of politicians are in the antsy mode. I am not. I am doing things deliberately and thoroughly. If I decide to run I am sure an organization will come into place pretty quickly, based on what people have told me."

Smith said the fact that people are beginning to focus on the 1994 races "has turned the burner up a little bit on this entire evaluation.

"We're not saying he will run or won't run. He feels a real strong obligation to look at it, assess it, and make an assessment based on facts and the people out there, and whose support he can get. The big question he has to decide is, does Bill Emerson have the fire in his belly to run statewide, and is his family willing to stand with him on what would be a very difficult race."