Debate unlikely between Emerson, Parker

Eighth District candidate Bob Parker wants to debate U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson before next year's Republican primary, but a statement released Wednesday by Emerson's campaign makes that look like a long shot.

The statement says that no declared candidates have personally asked the 15-year incumbent or anyone in her organization for a debate.

"She is more than willing to debate credible opponents on serious policy issues, but debates with people who attack her family, lie about her record and distort her actions are not going to happen," the statement says.

Rep. Jo Ann Emerson

Those statements are an apparent reference to Parker's criticism that Emerson's vote to bail out union pensions is suspect because she is married to Ron Gladney, a union lobbyist.

Emerson and her campaign had no more to say on the matter Wednesday, but Parker said he believes voters are entitled to hear the candidates debate the issues. Parker, a rancher from Raymondville, Mo., acknowledged that, despite his statement that he has challenged Emerson to a debate, he has not personally contacted her asking for one.

Parker lost to Emerson in the 2010 Republican primary, though he did garner about 35 percent of the vote while raising only $38,000 compared to Emerson's $1.8 million. Emerson went on to defeat Democrat Tommy Sowers in the general election that year.

Though she did debate Sowers, Libertarian Rick Vandeven and independent Larry Bill after the primary, Emerson, 61, never debated Parker in 2010, and Parker said his supporters have asked her for a debate this year, making their pleas on Emerson's Facebook page.

"I never got a response in 2010, so now I'm taking my case to the people," he said.

Parker plans to build on the groundwork he laid in 2010, intensifying his efforts to make many campaign stops in the massive 28-county district. Last week, Parker said he believes that Emerson is "out of touch" with 8th District voters and isn't conservative enough.

Specifically, Parker, 54, was critical of Emerson's votes on private-sector bailouts, such as the ones for the auto industry and Wall Street, on allowing taxpayer-funded human embryonic stem-cell research and on the Central America Free Trade Agreement.

"I think she's definitely beatable in the Republican primary," Parker said.

But he acknowledges it will be a challenge, especially in the area of fundraising, where Emerson already has $188,477 on hand, according to the most recent campaign filings. The primary election will take place Aug. 7, giving Emerson eight more months to raise money -- and that's before November's general election. Parker has not filed any paperwork for the 2012 election with the Federal Elections Commission.

"She outspent me. She'll outspend me again," Parker said. " ... I just need to get enough to get my message out there and who I am and what I stand for. And I think I'll win."

Not everyone agrees, however. Eddy Justice is the chairman of the Republican 8th District Committee. In his official capacity, Justice, an insurance agent in Poplar Bluff, Mo., said he doesn't officially endorse either candidate.

But, as a voter, he said, he'll probably vote for Emerson.

"Bob is a strong conservative," Justice said. "And he has been very open where he disagrees with Jo Ann. But her constituent services have been second to none. She's done a tremendous job for the 8th Congressional District."

No Democrats have yet declared their intentions to challenge the winner of the Republican primary. The official candidate filing period begins Feb. 28.

Vandeven, the Chaffee, Mo., Libertarian who ran for the seat last year, said that he's considering a run again but will likely decide after the end of the year.

smoyers@semissourian.com

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