Alan Wheat began the last week of his campaign for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Cape Girardeau Tuesday, talking with students and administrators at Southeast Missouri State University about issues like education and health care.

Before starting a question-answer session with about two dozen people on campus, the congressman from Kansas City expressed relief that the end of a long campaign was in site.

With the primary Tuesday, Wheat said it "is the last week of what has been a marathon for me." Wheat has been actively laying the groundwork for a Senate bid since Feb. 1, 1993, when Republican John Danforth announced plans to retire.

Wheat, 42, is regarded by some as the front-runner among seven candidates in the Democratic primary. The likely Republican nominee is former governor John Ashcroft.

Wheat said that throughout his campaign "education has been a centerpiece." He talked about how the National Service Act passed by Congress will increase opportunities for young people to attend college.

Southeast President Kala Stroup told Wheat the university is gearing up to participate in the program. Wheat commended Southeast's effort and said many universities were not yet getting involved with the program.

"This is one way to improve our communities with service projects, as well as to help youths earn money for an education," said Wheat.

Wheat said providing access to higher education starts at the preschool level by making sure children have a good start. He suggested one reason many young people do not do well in school is because they see no opportunity to attend college.

He discussed a school district in Kansas City that had been sending 15 percent of its high school seniors to college. A businessman promised eighth-grade students he would pay their way to college if they made good grades and stayed out of trouble. Ninety-seven percent of that class attended college.

"We don't have to pay for everyone to go to college; just provide them the opportunity to go and offer work programs and loans so they can have a chance," said Wheat.

"Increasing opportunities to education starts at an early level. Constant intervention is important."

He said job creation is another concern of his because once people are educated they need opportunities to work.

Wheat said he supports the president's goal of making health care available to all Americans and to make it affordable. The congressman said he supports universal health care.

"Even the 85 percent of Americans who have health insurance are seeing their rates climb," said Wheat.

"The health care debate is at a critical point. In the next two to three weeks it will be clear whether we will do something this year or not."

Referring to alternative plans that would provide for 95 percent coverage, Wheat said it is important to think about the 5 percent left out. "That group will be made up of hard-working people in the middle glass," he said. "I don't feel they should be left out."

Wheat said comments that the bill would keep people from choosing their doctors are not true.

He also questioned why McDonald's could provide health insurance for its workers outside the United States but not to workers in the country. He said suggestions that providing health insurance would drive up food costs dramatically are unfounded.

Wheat said he feels good about his campaign and is looking forward to winning the nomination next week.

"I enjoy hearing from people and their concerns. I like to think I can get something done to help them if I am elected," said Wheat.

He has represented the 5th District in Jackson County since 1983, and before that served three terms in the Missouri House.