Independent candidate Jo Ann Emerson has a solid lead over Democrat Emily Firebaugh in the 8th District congressional race, an Emerson-commissioned poll shows.

Emerson released the poll results Saturday, which showed the Cape Girardeau Republican with a 56 to 21 percent margin over Firebaugh in the general election.

Firebaugh spokesman Marc Powers called the poll numbers "ridiculous and exaggerated."

Both candidates also are on the ballot for the special election to fill the unexpired term of Emerson's late husband, Bill.

Both elections will be held Nov. 5.

The poll shows Emerson leading the Farmington Democrat in the special-election contest, 64 to 24 percent. The poll has a 5 percent margin of error.

Bill Emerson was completing his 16th year as 8th District congressman when he died in June of lung cancer.

Powers said the Firebaugh campaign has its own poll numbers that indicate the race is "extremely competitive."

Powers said, "Voters of the 8th District should be skeptical about campaign ploys such as the release of partial poll numbers."

But Emerson campaign officials defended the poll and said it was a clear sign their candidate is ahead in the race.

"It is as good as it gets in a race like this," said Lloyd Smith, Emerson's political director.

Emerson and Firebaugh are the leading candidates in the 8th District race.

There also are three other candidates on the general election ballot: Republican Richard Kline of Gipsy; and Libertarian Greg Tlapek and Natural Law Party candidate David Zimmer, both of Cape Girardeau.

Kline is the Republican nominee in the general election because Emerson didn't get into the race until after the filing period closed.

Emerson had to mount a petition drive to get on the ballot as an independent in the general election. However, she is the Republican candidate on the special-election ballot.

The Emerson poll was conducted by American Viewpoint of Alexandria, Va.

The poll surveyed 400 likely voters in the 26 counties of Southeast Missouri. It was conducted Aug. 25 and 26.

Of those surveyed, 44 percent said they were Republican and 43 percent identified themselves as Democrats.

Emerson fared well among Republicans, Democrats and independents, the poll showed.

Sixty-six percent of the Republicans surveyed said they would vote for Emerson in both the special and general elections. Forty-seven percent of independents and 28 percent of Democrats said they would back her in both elections, the poll showed.

Seventy-three percent of the voters said Emerson had every reason to run for her late husband's seat; 16 percent said she was taking advantage of the situation.

The poll also shows President Clinton in a dead heat with Bob Dole in the presidential race in Southeast Missouri, with each candidate getting 43 percent of the vote.