STAPLES WON'T DRISKILL MAY SEEK EMERSON'S JOB

JEFFERSON CITY - With the March 31 filing deadline five days away, one state senator has ruled out challenging U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson this year while a state representative is still pondering whether to run.

Sen. Danny Staples, D-Eminence, and Rep. Joe Driskill, D-Poplar Bluff, participated in a meeting last Friday night in Dexter with about 30 Democratic Party leaders to discuss finding a strong challenger to Emerson.

Both Staples and Driskill, who have made no secret of their desire to serve in Congress, reportedly emerged from the meeting enthusiastic about backing from Democrats if they took on Emerson. Last fall, both had decided against running for Congress in 1992.

Staples told the group he would decide by Wednesday, and Driskill said if Staples did not run he would give it close consideration.

Staples, in the middle of his third term in the Missouri Senate, spent the weekend talking about his possible candidacy with people around the district, including a Sunday morning breakfast meeting in Rolla with Emerson.

On Wednesday morning, Staples indicated he felt he did not have time to get a winning campaign organized.

Driskill said Thursday he will probably decide this weekend whether to run.

"It is a very difficult decision," said Driskill, who is not opposed for a sixth term in the House. "I have to involve my family in this decision and make sure this is best for myself, my wife, and our two small children. I have to decide whether I think there is enough support for me to make this race and I want to make sure this is something I really want to do."

In bowing out of the congressional race, Staples contended, "It's too late for me to put anything together. I have not slept much the last few nights thinking about this decision, but I have decided to devote all my attention to the Missouri Senate the next two years.

"I have not put it out of my mind that I would like to run some time, but this is just not the year for Danny Staples."

The two say they have received strong encouragement from around the district to run.

Staples and Driskill say they have worked well with Emerson and his staff over the years and get along with him well.

"I have a great deal of respect for Bill Emerson personally and a great deal of respect for his political strength," said Driskill, who as of Thursday morning said he had not talked with Emerson or his staff about running.

Staples said he initiated the Sunday morning meeting with Emerson to talk about a variety of common concerns.

"Bill and I had breakfast together. I think a lot of Bill Emerson; he is a personal friend of mine," said Staples. "I had not had a chance to talk to Bill one on one for some time. We talked about things we would like to do and things that need to be done.

"I try to keep a good relationship with people who have run against me or to whom I have been opposed over the last 16 years I have been in public office," explained Staples. "There is no point in two adult grown Americans running for the same office to get into cussfights."

Last week, it was revealed that Emerson had been told by the House Ethics Committee that he had written six bad checks on the now closed House Bank. Staples and Driskill said the incident had prompted some people to suggest they should challenge Emerson, but neither see it as a major factor in their final decision.

Staples said it is too early to say whether Emerson is vulnerable this year.

"It's a long time til November and I would not say Bill is vulnerable right now," said Staples. "Everyone seems to want to talk about the House bank, but I don't see that being anything to elect or defeat anyone.

"When you run for office, you don't run against the incumbent. You put out your agenda and what you are going to try and do. You run on your record and the things you will be for or against if elected," Staples added. "I don't run against anyone."

Driskill said the check situation did not in itself cause him to re-evaluate whether to run, but it did make a lot of other people in Southeast Missouri interested in the race and finding someone to challenge Emerson.

"Their interest piqued my interest," observed Driskill.

He noted that the growing anti-incumbency sentiment, especially against members of Congress, lingering economic problems and the likelihood that Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton will head the Democratic ticket for president are more significant factors in his decision making process.

"I think Gov. Clinton, as the presumed nominee, will help bring Democrats to the polls in Southeast Missouri."

Driskill said the check situation will only help in linking Emerson to "the congressional establishment and certainly has been part of the questions raised on the bad check situation. And, as such, I think people are fed up with what has been happening in Washington and Congress.

"In the past, Congressman Emerson seems to have tried to distance himself from other members of Congress and Congress as an institution," added Driskill. "Now, he certainly seems to be a part of that institution. Attempting to portray yourself as an outsider when you've been a member of Congress for 12 years is not something I think the people will accept."

Emerson's chief of staff, Lloyd Smith, said they do not get involved in the Democratic primary or the selection of candidates but will be prepared to face whoever the Democratic nominee is.

"Bill Emerson has filed for Congress and is putting the necessary campaign organization together to be ready for whoever wins the Democratic primary in August. He never takes an election for granted, and 1992 is no exception," said Smith.

"Our plans are to be well-organized, well-funded and discuss the issues as well as his work for the 8th District."

Emerson is challenged in the Republican primary for the first time since he was first elected in 1980. Earl Durnell, a Cabool farmer, has filed against him.

On the Democratic side, two candidates have filed - Thad Bullock, a retired Cape Girardeau busi~nessman who has lost the primary on five other occasions, and Johnny Dover, a Bell City factory worker who was a candidate in the 1988 Democratic primary.

Democratic Party leaders are concerned about having Bullock or Dover carrying the party's banner in November, and 8th District Democratic Chairman R. Todd McBride said he expects at least one other candidate will enter the race that could be a credible alternative to Emerson.

Rusty Carnahan, a Rolla attorney who lost to Emerson by a wide margin two years ago, attended the meeting in Dexter last Friday and is also giving thought to running again. He is not expected to file if someone the caliber of Staples or Driskill were to enter the race.

Many Democrats are concerned that having the younger Carnahan in the congressional race would hurt the chances of his father, Lt. Gov. Mel Carnahan, who is a Democratic candidate for governor.

Many political observers believe a challenger to Emerson would need $500,000 at the least to wage a strong campaign.

Smith pointed out that Emerson had more money in his campaign account on Jan. 1 than he has ever had at the start of any previous election year. But Smith stressed the strength of Emerson "is not just dollars, but our solid grassroots efforts and coordinators in every county.

"I think we've got a good story to tell and want to make sure we have the resources to tell our story, regardless of what the other side is doing."