MOST LOCAL DELEGATES PICK `UNCOMMITTED'

Half of Cape Girardeau County Democrats who participated in Tuesday's presidential caucus chose uncommitted delegates.

Presidential hopeful Gov. Bill Clinton of Arkansas won three delegates from Cape Girardeau County and Sen. Paul Tsongas of Massachusetts took two delegates.

About 100 registered Democrats participated in the county caucus, held Tuesday night at Drury Lodge in Cape Girardeau. Most of the delegates said they weren't surprised at the totals here.

Delegates elected Tuesday will represent the county's Democrats in the 8th District convention April 14 in Poplar Bluff.

R. Todd McBride, 8th District Democratic chairman, was elected as one of the five uncommitted delegates. He said he thought a number of voters are uncommitted to a Democratic presidential candidate out of deference to U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt of St. Louis.

"I think that after the final state convention, I wouldn't be at all surprised if uncommitted takes the state," McBride said.

"Although he says he won't run, I think it's an honorary thing for Richard Gephardt. Also, I think a lot of people in Missouri are just waiting to see who emerges as the strongest candidate."

McBride and other delegates said that voters aren't entirely happy with their choice of candidates and are waiting to see if someone else enters the race before the national convention this summer.

But Charles Wiles, a Clinton delegate to the district convention, said he thinks a large uncommitted vote could hurt the party in November.

"I'm kind of surprised at the number of uncommitted," he said. "I think we need to go to the district and state conventions with a strong candidate."

Melissa Hillhouse, a Tsongas delegate, said she was pleased that the senator was able to win two delegates from the county.

"The fact that the uncommitted vote is so large means that things could go either way," she said.

"I think it means a lot of people haven't made up their minds," said Tsongas delegate Dean Allison. "It could also be (New York Gov. Mario) Cuomo supporters."

Cuomo has said he doesn't intend to enter the presidential race, but has garnered some grassroots support nationally for a late campaign.

Lois Boston, a Clinton delegate, said she thinks a number of uncommitted delegates will join the Clinton campaign as he begins to win more primaries nationwide.

During the last presidential election, Missouri was included in the "Super Tuesday" primaries. But state party officials opted this year to return to holding caucuses across the state.

Boston said she favors the caucus system over a state-wide presidential primary.

"It's a lot more hands-on democracy," she said. "You come in here and you try to get a certain number of delegates, and I just think it's a better opportunity for people to participate in the democratic process."

But other delegates said they want to return to a primary election.

"I'd rather see a primary," said Wiles. "There's a lot more participation in terms of raw numbers in a primary. We're talking here about 99 people affecting a county.

"I imagine a majority of voters didn't understand at all what this was about. It's not nearly as representative a form of government as a primary."

McBride said that he also favors a primary. He said it's easier to get people to participate in primaries and they also allow voters the opportunity to "meet" candidates campaigning in the state.

"I think it helps the economy too," he added. "A lot of candidates spend a lot of money in a primary trying to get people elected. That's good for the whole state."

At the 8th District Democratic meeting, five delegates will be chosen from the district to attend the national convention. Missouri will have 86 delegates and 13 alternates attending the national convention in New York City in July.

Some of the delegates will be chosen at the district conventions, and the rest at the state convention in late May or early June.

Early at Tuesday's caucus, a small contingent of voters supporting former California Gov. Jerry Brown tried to muster enough representatives for a delegate. At least 15 percent of the total people attending the caucus must support a certain candidate to assure a delegate.

When Brown failed to get the necessary 15 percent, the seven Brown supporters sided with uncommitted voters. Total caucus results were: 49 uncommitted; 34 for Clinton; and 15 for Tsongas.

The county elected 10 delegates and six alternates to attend the district conventions.

The five uncommitted delegates were: Sally Kerkorian, McBride, Larry Summary, Dawn Creech and Barbara Lampher. The alternates were Ted Lampher, Anna Tripp, Patricia Aldridge, Fran Garriga and Lisa Andrews.

The three Clinton delegates were Wiles, Boston and Tom Boston, and the alternates were Janet Robert, Dottie Hank and John Grimm.

The Tsongas delegates were Hillhouse and Allison, and the alternates were Bruce Hathaway and Susan Smith.