EMERSON WINS RE-ELECTION BATTLE IN 8TH DISTRICT

Eighth District voters handily re-elected U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson to a second term Tuesday.

The Cape Girardeau Republican defeated Democratic challenger Tony Heckemeyer of Sikeston and Libertarian John Hendricks of Jackson.

With 92 percent of precincts reporting, Emerson had 97,658 votes or 63 percent to 54,727 votes or 35 percent for Heckemeyer. Hendricks received 2,580 votes or 2 percent.

Heckemeyer, a former circuit judge, said he might run again for Congress in two years.

Emerson was first elected to Congress in 1996, succeeding her late husband, Bill, who held the Southeast Missouri seat for 16 years.

"I feel really good," Emerson said at the Holiday Inn where she celebrated her victory with about 500 supporters.

The supporters included her mother-in-law, Marie Hahn, who celebrated her 82nd birthday Election Night. Fittingly, Hahn was born on Election Day in 1916.

Emerson said Tuesday's win felt different than her initial win two years, which came only a few months after the death of her husband, a popular congressman.

"I feel like I won because of me," said Emerson. "I think this was a clear victory, and I think it shows that people felt comfortable with me, thought I did a good job."

Emerson said she has consistently tried to put people before politics and has listened to her constituents. It's a message that wasn't lost on voters.

Emerson carried Heckemeyer's home county of Scott and neighboring Mississippi County.

"I think that is a clear message that the people in those counties were satisfied with the job that I did," she said.

Hendricks, a Jackson businessman, ran a low-key, low-cost campaign. He espoused less government across the board, including a plan to phase out Social Security and eliminate the federal income tax.

At his campaign headquarters in Sikeston Tuesday night, Heckemeyer talked of running again. He also said he plans to do some farming.

"I probably will run again in two years," said Heckemeyer, adding that he is ready to campaign again. "I will start tomorrow probably."

He said he hopes next time he can have a true debate with Emerson.

"I knew that I had to try to get her on the issues and I never could," said Heckemeyer.

He contended she won the race on name recognition, a claim that the Emerson camp disputes.

Emerson was better financed. That was a factor in the contest, Heckemeyer said.

Emerson outraised and outspent Heckemeyer. Through September, she had raised about $1 million for her re-election campaign. In contrast, Heckemeyer had raised about $300,000.

"You buy these things now," Heckemeyer said.

But Emerson said her campaign didn't greatly outspend Heckemeyer when it came to television advertising.

Emerson said she wasn't surprised she won because her polling showed all along that she would capture 63 percent of the vote.

"Our polls were totally accurate," she said.