Although he readily admits it is a longshot, state Sen. Jerry Howard said Wednesday he is contemplating a run for the U.S. Senate next year.

"I have not yet started the process of evaluation, but I will try to get a feel for it, largely feedback from key people in the state who figure in political campaigns," said the Dexter Democrat.

"Once my name was put out there, I would try to see what the feedback was. If the good feedback wasn't there, I wouldn't be there."

In making decisions on past campaigns, Howard said he has been able to assess potential support and believes he can do the same thing on a Senate race, even though it is on a much larger scale than the Missouri Senate.

"I have thought about it for some time, and am also realistic enough to know that this would be a giant step for me; it would be the ultimate for me," said Howard. "For me to run, things would have to work out just right."

Howard said he also recognizes that whoever wins the Senate race will need to come up with about $5 million, a consideration that will also be part of his decision process.

"We have not had a senator from Southeast Missouri for a long, long time. It would certainly be quite a coup to make it happen."

Howard represents the 25th District, which includes the counties of Stoddard, New Madrid, Butler, Pemiscot, Dunklin and Wayne. He won a special election to fill an unexpired term in December 1990, and then won a full four-year term last year.

Prior to his election to the Senate, Howard had two stints in the Missouri House. He was elected to the House in 1972 and 1974, and after losing his re-election bid in 1976, won a special election in 1987. He won re-election to the House in 1988 and 1990.

In the Senate he serves as chairman of the Aging, Families and Mental Health Committee.

The 56-year old Howard was born in Oak Ridge. He is a graduate of Cape Central High School and Southeast Missouri State University.

Howard said he began considering the U.S. Senate race well before Republican Sen. John Danforth announced Monday that he would not seek a fourth term in 1994.

"I have mentioned it to some of my close friends in and around Stoddard County, about running against Danforth," said Howard. "I felt he was vulnerable - vulnerable to the point he made a wise political decision by not running again.

"I was doing some preliminary looking and trying to put it in perspective in my own mind."

Howard said the toughest Democratic candidate being mentioned so far is Lt. Gov. Roger Wilson, who until the first of the year was a Senate colleague of his.

"If Roger is really interested, it might be foolhardy on my part to run because he has conducted a statewide campaign before," said Howard. "But on the other hand, I would think his close margin of victory adds a question ... he's further ahead on name recognition from having run statewide - he's ahead of me and most other people."

Howard said it is too early to say whether Wilson's entry into the race would force him to back off; however, "He would be a major consideration for me."

At the most, Howard said he has eight months to make a decision on seeking the Senate seat. If he receives some encouragement, Howard anticipates forming an exploratory committee within six months.

"I'll be bouncing it off people from time to time to see if the support is out there. It is very nebulous right now. I would have to get an awful lot of publicity and positive feedback in order to be very serious about being a candidate," said Howard.

The senator described his effort as "floating a trial balloon" but said, "I don't want to get off in deep water."

Another consideration for Howard are rigors of a statewide campaign and its impact on his family.

"Any campaign, and especially one of this magnitude, is extremely taxing on you and your family. I am reluctant to jump out and do something foolish. To run a campaign for the sake of a campaign is not something I'm interested in doing," said Howard.

"My whole background and theme of public service has been service to my constituency. That would still be my basis for running for the U.S. Senate - to serve the citizens of Missouri and do it in the best manner possible."