STACKING UP: FINANCE RECORDS SHOW 8TH DISTRICT INCUMBENT LEADS IN CONTRIBUTIONS

The two major candidates for Congress in the 8th District have raised $1.2 million and spent $746,000 in the race, campaign finance reports show.

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson has raised and spent more money than Democratic challenger Tony Heckemeyer by a wide margin, according to the most recent campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

She is seeking re-election to a second term.

The third candidate in the race, Libertarian John Hendricks of Jackson, has raised and spent less than $1,000.

Hendricks has financed his own campaign for the most part. He said he received a few, small contributions.

His expenditures have been confined to campaign fliers and gasoline money. "I didn't do any yard signs."

Hendricks said he hasn't sought contributions. "I didn't want to waste people's money," he said.

Emerson and Heckemeyer, on the other hand, have raised substantial amounts of money.

Emerson, a Cape Girardeau Republican, raised nearly $962,000 from Jan. 1, 1997, through Sept. 30 of this year.

Much of that -- $627,000 -- has been raised during the first nine months of this year.

Heckemeyer, a former circuit judge from Sikeston, has raised around $300,000 since entering the race in February, according to campaign finance reports filed on Oct. 15.

Emerson has garnered far more contributions from political action committees than Heckemeyer.

Since Jan. 1, 1997, the Republican officeholder has received $453,383 from a combined 344 political action committees.

In terms of PAC contributions, Emerson's biggest backers have been from the finance, insurance, real estate and manufacturing industries. Agriculture, forestry and fishing interests also have backed her.

Heckemeyer has received some $43,000 from 25 political action committees.

Labor groups have been the largest PAC supporters of Heckemeyer, campaign records show.

In terms of individual contributors, much of Heckemeyer's support has come from lawyers.

From July through September, Heckemeyer received 144 individual contributions. Eighty-five of those came from lawyers.

During the same period, Emerson received 308 individual contributions. The top contributions came from retired people.

Emerson's campaign has spent $584,000 since Jan. 1, 1997, including nearly $372,000 this year, records show.

Heckemeyer has spent about $162,000, with all those expenses occurring this year.

The campaign finance records don't include money that may have been spent in the race by groups or organizations operating independently of the candidates.

As of Sept. 30, Emerson had more than $405,000 in her war chest compared to cash on hand of nearly $138,000 for Heckemeyer.

Lloyd Smith, Emerson's chief of staff, said the incumbent could spend about $800,000 in this election.

Heckemeyer's expenses may total around $400,000, said Jim Gardner, the Democratic candidate's campaign manager.

Both Emerson and Heckemeyer have decried the high cost of political campaigns even as they have continued to raise money.

Heckemeyer accused Republicans of "trying to buy votes in Southeast Missouri."

"A hundred years ago they called them carpet baggers -- East Coast insiders coming into our area and buying their way into office," he said.

Emerson said she isn't buying votes but simply trying to get her message to the voters.

She said it costs a lot of money to run television and radio commercials, and newspaper ads.

Television commercials are a major cost this year as the 8th District candidates have to compete for limited air time with candidates for the U.S. Senate and other offices in Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky.

Smith said a 30-second TV ad on the 10 o'clock news can cost $1,200 to $1,500.

Gardner agreed that air time is expensive. He said a 30-second spot on the "ER" television show costs $2,200.

Smith estimated 40 percent of Emerson campaign expenses this year will go for radio and TV advertising.

Gardner estimated the Heckemeyer campaign will spend about 30 to 35 percent on TV and radio ads.

Smith said media advertising is essential for a candidate to win election to Congress from the sprawling 8th District of Southeast Missouri.

The district covers 26 counties, an area that is 4,000 square miles larger than Switzerland, Smith said.

Smith said most of the money raised will be spent on media advertising, polling, mailings, travel expenses and staff salaries.

Emerson has a year-round campaign office.

The staff increases in election years. Emerson's campaign office currently has six full-time employees and three part-time workers.

Heckemeyer's campaign operates from his old law office in Sikeston. He has three full-time and four part-time employees.

Heckemeyer said many of Emerson's contributions have come from special-interest groups.

But Emerson and her staff defend the use of PAC money.

Said Smith, "When they give us money and contribute to the campaign, they are saying, `You are doing a good job. We want to keep you in that job.'"

Emerson said more than half of the contributions to her campaign have come from individuals, and most of those individual contributions have come from 8th District residents.

The vast majority of Heckemeyer's campaign dollars have come from individuals.

Under federal election laws, individuals can contribute a maximum of $2,000 and political action committees a maximum of $10,000 for the primary and general elections combined.