ASHCROFT HAS EXPERIENCE, RESULTS

This year's contest for U.S. Senate in Missouri has, in its final days, taken on dimensions that no one could have -- nor would have wanted to -- speculated about before history took its course. The tight race between incumbent John Ashcroft and Gov. Mel Carnahan did not automatically become a one-sided race, as might otherwise have been expected, when Missouri's political world was turned upside down by the tragic news, 16 days ago, that the small plane carrying Carnahan, his son and an aide had crashed with no survivors.

The state entered a dignified period of mourning. Led by Ashcroft, most political candidates suspended their broadcast advertisements for at least a few days. Ashcroft, who attended the funeral of his fallen foe and spoke words of tribute on the floor of the U.S. Senate, was off the air for a week. This was fitting and proper, as were the many eloquent tributes in the impressive state funeral for our fallen chief executive.

On Monday, Jean Carnahan announced that she would accept the offer of Gov. Roger Wilson to appoint her to fill what would be a vacant seat should the Carnahan name garner more votes next Tuesday than Ashcroft.

The question arises as to whether Missourians are going to cast their votes for the late governor in sufficient numbers to make his widow a U.S. senator rather than keep Ashcroft in the post. We hope not.

Sympathy is in order for the Carnahan family, which has suffered staggering losses. But neither sympathy this real, nor grief this acute, can trump the issues that were at stake for Missourians long before the tragic airplane accident.

To put the matter straightforwardly, the Carnahan agenda the agenda Mrs. Carnahan has pledged to take to Washington is a liberal one, far too liberal for our taste, and for those of most Missourians. On issue after issue, Governor Carnahan pursued an agenda during his eight years in office that was as liberal as any governor in Missouri history.

Consider education. The late governor's signature measure, the Outstanding Schools Act of 1993, is mainly an engine for transferring control from local school boards to unelected state bureaucrats. This bill also raised taxes by hundreds of millions of dollars without a vote as Carnahan had promised.

Consider labor. Carnahan stood for collective bargaining for public employees, which is no less than the effective unionization of state government. Ashcroft is opposed.

Consider health care. In his first two years, Carnahan tried to push through a state version of the Clinton health-care plan that would have been disastrous for Missouri.

Consider the right to life. Ashcroft has a long record of support for the pro-life cause espoused by most elected officials in Missouri -- Democrats, Republicans and independents. Carnahan was the most pro-abortion governor in our state's history. Twice Carnahan vetoed bills passed by the Democratic majorities that controlled the Missouri Legislature. The second time, just last year, Carnahan suffered the rare defeat of having his veto overridden by two-thirds votes of both the House and Senate.

There is no public record that Mrs. Carnahan disagrees with a single position her husband ever took. Offered an opportunity Monday to answer specific issue questions, she declined. Absent her statements to the contrary, it is fair to assume that these positions are hers, given the fact that the slogan she has embraced is "Keep the fire burning."

Meanwhile, Ashcroft has served Missouri honorably and with distinction as attorney general, governor and U.S. senator. He has been an effective advocate for the needs of Missourians in Washington.

On the basis of this strong record, we urge a vote for John Ashcroft for the U.S. Senate.