Early sales of a new book by David Limbaugh have propelled it to the No. 2 best-seller spot at a Cape Girardeau book store.

"Absolute Power: The Legacy of Corruption in the Clinton-Reno Justice Department" is selling swiftly at local bookstores, including Barnes and Noble, where its sales are second only to a national best-selling inspirational book called "The Prayer of Jabez."

This is the first book for Limbaugh, a Cape Girardeau attorney and nationally syndicated columnist and political commentator. His brother is radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh.

In the book, Limbaugh writes of what his publisher, Regnery Publishing, calls "troubling evidence that former President Bill Clinton conspired with members of the Justice Department, including former Attorney General Janet Reno, to protect his administration from investigation."

Limbaugh said the book is a case-by-case review of the Clinton scandals and examines the role the Justice Department played in them. He writes about Clinton's influence on such investigations as Waco, Elian Gonzalez, tobacco litigation and the travel office affair.

"A real important chapter is one that chronicles how the Clinton smear machine turned the tables on his accusers, primarily Ken Starr," Limbaugh said. "The chapter is a vindication of Ken Starr because it's a review of the evidence and a thorough vindication of him and the policies he pursued."

Limbaugh said he got the idea for the book after brainstorming with a friend about potential topics to write about.

"This seemed to be right down my alley, being a lawyer and being interested in politics," he said, adding that he did all the research for the book.

A lengthy excerpt from "Absolute Power" will run in an upcoming issue of "American Spectator" magazine, which was something of a feather in Limbaugh's cap.

"In fact, the editor stopped the presses on the magazine to do that," he said. "That was really exciting for me."

Barnes and Noble manager Steve Turner said he isn't sure how to account for the popularity of the book already, considering there has not been a lot of publicity about it yet.

"Right now, it's just word of mouth," he said. "Limbaugh being a local author has a lot to do with it. When it hits the national media, it should really pick up."

List price for the hardcover book is $27.95. Limbaugh said he is not sure yet when he will do any local signings.

He said he is interested in the possibility of writing another book. "I'd like to do another one," he said. "I've got some ideas that have nothing to do with this subject, but I'm just flirting with it, so I don't know yet."