FRONTRUNNERS IN 8TH DISTRICT DRAW BIG BUCKS

The two leading candidates in the 8th District congressional race combined will spend an estimated $1.4 million, campaign officials say.

Business and agriculture political-action committees are major backers of independent-Republican candidate Jo Ann Emerson, Federal Election Commission records show.

The business PACs include the National Restaurant Association and the insurance industry. Emerson previously held executive positions with the restaurant and the insurance associations.

Labor unions are the biggest contributors to Democrat Emily Firebaugh's campaign.

It is estimated that more than $800,000 will be spent on Emerson's election campaign. That includes over $700,000 in direct campaign expenses and about $120,000 in mailings and other expenses paid for by the national Republican Party, said Lloyd Smith, Emerson's political director.

Smith estimated the Emerson campaign will spend more than $400,000 on television and radio ads.

Emerson will outspend Firebaugh by about $200,000, Firebaugh spokesman Marc Powers said.

Powers said much of Firebaugh's campaign contributions have gone into TV ads. "TV is the way to reach the most voters," he said.

Smith said Republicans haven't spent this much on a congressional campaign since 1988, when Bill Emerson spent over $850,000 to win re-election.

Bill Emerson died of lung cancer this summer after filing for re-election. His widow, Jo Ann Emerson, then entered the race.

Campaign finance reports filed Oct. 15 with the Federal Election Commission show Emerson had raised $507,920 by the end of last month, over $123,000 more than Firebaugh.

Emerson has collected more PAC money than Firebaugh.

Smith said it takes a lot of money to run for Congress in the 8th District, a sprawling area that covers 26 counties and some 19,000 square miles with more than half-a-million people. The region is larger than the country of Switzerland.

To get their message to the voters, candidates have to buy television and radio time, run newspaper ads and use direct mailings, Smith said.

"Money obviously is the mother's milk of politics, but people cast the votes," he said.

Smith said the Emerson campaign not only is well financed, but also has a good grassroots organization throughout the district.

"Obviously, having money is beneficial," Powers said. "Definitely, it can help you out."

But he said it is still important for candidates to be out on the streets talking to voters face to face.

"Thirty- and 60-second spots are nice, but they don't tell you everything," Powers said.

House Speaker Newt Gingrich's Monday Morning PAC is the biggest single contributor to Emerson's campaign, having contributed $15,000.

The trial lawyers association and the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union are the biggest single contributors to Firebaugh, each giving $15,000.

Groups can give a maximum of $5,000 per election.

The special election to fill the vacant congressional seat will be held Tuesday, along with the general election. But it will count as a separate election. That means a group could give a candidate $5,000 each in the primary, general and special elections.