EMERSON WINS; DEMOCRATS IN CLOSE RACE

U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson easily won the Republican nomination for Missouri's 8th District congressional seat.

But no winner had emerged late Tuesday night in a tight race for the Democratic nomination.

With 58 percent of the district's 512 precincts reporting at press time, Emerson held a 16,332 to 6,903 lead over challenger Earl Durnell of Cabool.

In the Democratic race, James "Jay" Thompson of Bourbon and retired Cape Girardeau businessman Thad Bullock were in a virtual dead heat, with 25 percent of the vote. Bullock held a slight lead over Thompson, 9,840 votes to 9,673.

Others seeking the nomination were Jon A. Kiser of Piedmont, Dean Burk of DeSoto, Shannon Russell of Gideon and Johnny Dover.

Vote totals were Russell, 6,326 (16 percent), Kiser, 5,455 (14 percent), Burk, 4,511 (12 percent) and Dover, 3,301 (8 percent).

Bullock was the biggest surprise in the race. In five previous attempts, he has never come close to getting the Democratic nomination for Congress. In fact, he previously carried only one county, Dunklin, in 1984.

Bullock previously ran for Congress in 1968, 1984, 1986, 1988, and 1990. Part of his campaign regiment this year included lunching at senior citizen centers in various communities and entertaining the visitors on the piano.

Emerson said that whoever his opponent is, he hopes the fall campaign is a "clean" one.

The congressman said he was fortunate to get as many votes as he did given the "anti-incumbency" sentiment of voters in general and the "negative campaign tactics" employed by his opponent, Durnell.

"I believe 70 percent is an outstanding margin in the existing climate, particularly when my opponent ran a totally unethical and critical campaign against me," Emerson said. "He only engaged in negative campaigning, and never said one positive thing about himself.

"I have always run, wherever possible, only positive campaigns, and that's what I did in this race. I didn't even mention my opponent's name while the whole time he was totally blasting me."

Emerson said he also would try to run a clean campaign in the fall, regardless of who his opponent is. But he also indicated that, if attacked, he won't remain on the defensive.

"I will not tolerate that in the fall campaign," he said. "There comes a point when I must respond. The line's drawn, and I'm not going to take it anymore."

Durnell campaigned heavily throughout the district and focused heavily on the declining economy and ballooning federal deficit. In one television ad, he emphasized Emerson's involvement in the House "banking scandal" for writing five bad checks that totalled about $26,000.

Thompson said Tuesday night that he doubted the fall election would feature such negative campaigning.

"Congressman Emerson is my congressman, and I'm a patriot. I told him early in the race that I'm not going to attack him unless he attacks me," Thompson said. "I think whoever's elected, it's going to be an issue-oriented campaign.

"I think he represents business as usual and people are fed up with it," he added. "People want change and will feel more comfortable with a Democrat in Congress, especially because I think we'll have a Democratic administration."

Emerson said he will emphasize several issues in the fall campaign and run on his "record." He said job creation and economic development is a key issue among 8th District voters.

"I feel we've made significant contributions in that regard, with infrastructure improvements such as a number of new highways and bridges," Emerson said.

"I have a great deal of faith in the electorate and their relationship with me. I felt strongly that our success for the district was a positive story to tell in the primary, and I'll continue that in the fall."

Other issues that need to be addressed in Congress include education, health care and the federal budget deficit.

"Of course, deficit control is a raging issue," he said. "I'll continue to work for a balanced budget amendment and line-item veto .