STATE DEMOCRATIC TICKET TO VISIT CAPE ON FRIDAY

The state Democratic ticket will be coming to Cape Girardeau Friday, beginning a two-day swing to seven cities around Missouri.

The trip is being organized by the Missouri Coordinated Campaign, which is an effort to have statewide candidates working more closely together with the Democratic Party.

In addition, the trip is being billed as an opportunity to introduce the state ticket and discuss ways to revitalize Missouri's economy.

Democratic candidates are scheduled to hold an 8 a.m. news conference at the FFA Barn at the SEMO District Fair and then spend some time on the fairgrounds before heading to Springfield for a noon activity.

Scheduled to make the trip are Lt. Gov. Mel Carnahan, the candidate for governor; St. Louis County Council Member Geri Rothman-Serot, running for the U.S. Senate; state Sen. Roger Wilson, D-Columbia, the party's nominee for lieutenant governor; state Sen. Jay Nixon, D-Hillsboro, a candidate the attorney general; Bob Holden of St. Louis, the nominee for state treasurer; and Pettis County Clerk Judi Moriarty, the nominee for secretary of state.

Rothman-Serot and Moriarty will be making their first campaign visits to this area.

Other stops are planned at Springfield, St. Joseph, Kansas City, Columbia, St. Louis and Hannibal.

Brian Bond, a staff member for the coordinated campaign, said Friday's visit to Cape Girardeau is an indication of how important the party feels Southeast Missouri is this year and the strength of Bill Clinton-Al Gore presidential ticket in this area.

"This is an important part of the state for us," explained Bond. "Clinton's message is the type of message not only for Democrats but for former Perot supporters and disenchanted Republicans as well."

Bond was in Cape Girardeau earlier this week to help set up a Clinton-Gore office at 1858 Broadway that will serve as the headquarters for the coordinated effort in Southeast Missouri.

"The coordinated campaign is a way of combining efforts on programs to assist all candidates such as voter registration, voter persuasion and canvassing, and get-out-the-vote efforts," said Bond.

"This is the first time this has been tried on a statewide effort of having the candidates work together."

Bond said it is important to have an office in this part of the state in order to support the many volunteers wanting to work on behalf of Clinton and other Democratic candidates.

The office is now open on a part-time basis and will have a formal opening next week. Tom McMahon, who worked on the presidential campaign of Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerry, will serve as the Southeast Missouri regional coordinator and work out of this office.

The telephone number for the Cape Girardeau office is 335-4436.