KLINE GETS LOCAL REFORM PARTY BACKING

Lagging behind in the polls and with two days remaining until the election, 8th congressional Republican candidate Richard Kline has captured an endorsement from the Reform Party.

The local chapter of the party created by Ross Perot consists of about 100 members from Cape Girardeau, Jackson and surrounding communities.

"I'm overwhelmed," Kline of Gipsy said. "This is the first major endorsement that I've received. It humbles you fast. I'm certainly pleased with it."

He thinks the endorsement will help him, and he is confident he will win the race, despite the fact that many people have counted him out.

"It may be the cincher for me," he said of the endorsement.

The Reform Party here says he's the best one for the job as a U.S. representative. The other candidates are Independent Jo Ann Emerson, Democrat Emily Firebaugh, Libertarian Greg Tlapek and David Zimmer of the Natural Law Party.

Members of the Reform Party say Kline offers a fresh departure from politics as usual.

"He's the one who is most for the goals that we are for," said Mary Aldredge, local spokeswoman for the Reform Party. "He's for renegotiating NAFTA and GATT and Emerson and Firebaugh favor those agreements."

She said the Reform Party feels that NAFTA and GATT are sending American jobs to Mexico and Canada and they want a representative in Congress who will keep jobs here.

The Reform Party especially is impressed with the fact that Kline cares enough to use his own money while Emerson and Firebaugh are getting millions in special-interest money, she said.

"He's speaking for the people and not for the people who are giving him money," Aldredge said.

They also do not like the way the GOP has pushed the elected Republican candidate aside and supported who is vying to net her late husband's congressional seat.

"We're upset about that," Aldredge said. "They wouldn't let him on the stage of the Kemp rally (Friday in Jackson). But he still helped us get in with our Perot signs when they tried to keep us out."

Other Reform Party members think that the endorsement for Kline is a good one.

"He's not politics as usual," said Carol Poole of Jackson. "He isn't afraid to speak his mind."

Scott Purifoy Spellman of Bollinger County said he likes Kline because he's not as polished as the other candidates.

"He's accomplished in his own right," Spellman said. "He's just a concerned citizen. The GOP is trying to oust him but he speaks on the issues. He's a rookie, I know that; he's rough around the edges but I like what he stands for."

Aldredge drew comparisons between Kline and their candidate for president, Ross Perot.

"They both love their country," she said, "and they both do what they think is right instead of listening to everybody else."

Emerson and Firebaugh campaign headquarters were notified of the endorsement but didn't return phone calls to comment.