POLITICAL CAUCUSES SCHEDULED

Democrats and Republicans in Missouri will soon play a role in choosing the nominee of their parties for president.

Missouri is a caucus state, and the process of selecting delegates begins at the county level. Democrats will hold county caucuses on March 10, while Republicans across Missouri will gather at the county level on April 14.

In 1988, Missouri held its first presidential preference primary in March on a trial basis. Despite the urging of Secretary of State Roy Blunt to make the primary permanent, state legislators declined to do so. Missouri reverted to its status as a caucus state.

Blair Moran of Sikeston, the 8th District Republican chairman, said details on the GOP caucuses will be released soon. He noted that after the April 14 county meetings, the 8th District caucus will be during May in Poplar Bluff, followed by the state convention in June.

Todd McBride of Cape Girardeau, the 8th District Democratic chairman, explained the county caucuses are set up to choose delegates to the 8th District and state Democratic conventions.

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.

At the 8th District Democratic meeting, which will be held on April 14 in Poplar Bluff, five delegates will be chosen from the district to attend the national convention.

At the county level on March 10, the caucus for Cape Girardeau County will be held at Drury Lodge. Anyone who arrives later than 7:30 p.m. will not be able to participate.

"Any registered voter who considers himself a Democrat is welcome to participate," said McBride. He suggested all participants arrive by about 7 p.m.

The caucus will be divided by candidate preference. For a candidate to have a viable caucus, at least 15 percent of the total people attending must be supporting a certain candidate. If not, then supporters of the candidate have the option of joining another caucus.

A caucus can also be organized with a designation of uncommitted, McBride pointed out.

Cape Girardeau County will elect 10 delegates and six alternates to attend the district and state Democratic conventions.

McBride said at this point, it appears that Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton has the most support in Cape Girardeau County, but it is really too early to tell how many candidates will have supporters next month.

"Clinton seems to have some support, but at this point, you really don't hear much about Paul Tsongas," noted McBride. He added that some candidates will likely try to build organizations in parts of Missouri prior to March 10.

McBride said it is also possible that many Democrats in Missouri might tend to support an uncommitted position in case a new candidate enters the race, such as U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt, D-St. Louis.

Gephardt, who won the Democratic primary in Missouri in 1988, has stressed he is not running this year for president.

But regardless of what Gephardt says now, McBride said if the current candidates appear to be weak, or do not catch on in Missouri, it is possible there will be a move to back either Gephardt or take an uncommitted position at the county caucuses.