ILLINOIS VOTE SET TUESDAY; POSHARD, BRUCE SQUARE OFF IN 19TH

CARTERVILLE, Ill. - U.S. Rep. Glenn Poshard predicts the primary race in the new 19th Congressional District, in which he faces fellow Democrat Terry Bruce of Olney, could be close.

Bruce also expects expect a close vote.

"It'll be a long night Tuesday," said Bruce's campaign manager, W.T. Reynolds, from Bruce's campaign headquarters in Olney.

"It's up to the people now," said Dave Stricklin of Poshard's Carterville office. The veteran Illinois congressmen are pitted against each other because of a new congressional map for the state that reduces from 22 to 20 the number of people representing the Land of Lincoln in the U.S. House.

There are also two candidates on the Republican side of the primary ticket Tuesday: Doug Lee will face Paul Jurgins. Both are from Decatur.

Meanwhile, political observers say that Illinois and Michigan are must-win areas for Democratic presidential candidates Bill Clinton and Paul Tsongas.

Clinton, Tsongas and Jerry Brown debated jobs, the economy and crime while verbally battling for votes Friday night, four days before the crucial primaries in Illinois and Michigan.

State Democratic Party Chairman Gary LaPaille has promoted Illinois as the "kingmaker" in this year's balloting, saying it will be a pivotal state. "It could be the state that anoints the future nominee," he said.

GOP leaders say they expect President Bush to defeat challenger Pat Buchanan handily in Tuesday's voting in Illinois, but Buchanan could do well in Chicago.

In a northern Illinois congressional race, redistricting also has pitted incumbent U.S. Reps. Marty Russo and William Lipinski against each other.

Another big Democratic primary race is that of U.S. senator, where incumbent Alan J. Dixon will face Moseley Braun and Albert F. Hofeld in Tuesday's election.

Bruce, first elected in 1984, currently represents the old 19th District in Southern Illinois, while Poshard, of Carterville, elected in 1988, represented the now-defunct 21st, which left Poshard a congressman without a district.

When the 21st was eliminated, it divided Poshard's district three ways and left the Carterville Democrat two choices if he was to stay in politics a run against Bruce in the 19th or a run against Jerry Costello in the 12th District.

Poshard opted for the 19th.

"We've done everything we can do at this point," Strickland said of Poshard's campaign. "We've visited every county, we've discussed our feeling on reducing the budget deficit, a health care system to provide health care for every American, and the need for jobs and quality education.

"We feel things have gone well," said Strickland. "The congressman has done most of his work by driving from county to county and calling people during the evening."

"We've been pleased with our grass-roots efforts throughout the district," said Reynolds of the Bruce campaign. "We have had volunteers working in every county in the district, and we've had a lot of positive response."

Bruce is also calling for changes in federal policy, specifically the health care delivery system, the federal budget deficit, education and trade deficit.

"We're looking forward to the primary," said Reynolds. "We are expecting a close race."

Meanwhile, voters in Alexander County and Union counties won't have a primary choice for Congress. Democratic U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello of Belleville is unopposed in both the primary and general election. Costello inherited Alexander County during the redistricting.