MISSOURI IS POLITICAL TARGET

Elizabeth Dole, the wife of GOP presidential candidate Bob Dole, campaigned in Cape Girardeau Wednesday. It wasn't her first visit: The former labor secretary last stopped here in 1988 during her husband's failed primary bid for president.

This could be just the first of a number of high-profile visitors to Missouri this campaign season. Pollsters consider Missouri a battleground state, and as such candidates may try to win the state's 11 electoral college votes.

After one divides up the solidly Democratic states and the solidly Republican states, only a handful of swing states remain. That's why Missouri is in a decision-making position.

An interesting local connection was Dole's visit to the Missouri Veterans' Home, where she met C.W. Knuckles from Poplar Bluff. He and Dole recuperated from World War II wounds at the same time in an Army hospital in Battle Creek, Mich.

Dole outlined many of her husband's goals for the country. She also said she planned to continue to head up the American Red Cross. She hopes to encourage people to donate more money to charities, noting that on average Americans give less than 2 percent of their income to such causes.

It's possible even Bob Dole himself will visit, given his strong friendship with Congressman Bill Emerson. No doubt Democrats will pay close attention and will target the state as well. Missourians will benefit from a front-row seat in this presidential election.