Missouri will have a similar policy under what Governor Ashcroft calls his "targeted state investments" plan.

"Assessment has been done successfully by plenty of universities and is commonplace for industry and the military," said Governor Ashcroft.

But even as Governor Ashcroft and others tried to wring an upbeat message from the elections, some here were not so sanguine.

"Governor Ashcroft did not ask Paul Offner any questions with regard to his sexual preference."

That vote that he asked you about was a vote on restrictive anti-abortion legislation that then Governor Ashcroft was supporting.

Governor Ashcroft defeated Betty Cooper Hearnes, a Democrat, with 65 percent of the vote.

Governor Ashcroft has not said if he will call a special session.

One of Ashcroft's candidates for the state bench told the Times that Governor Ashcroft had asked him "if he was prepared to enforce the abortion laws."

In his veto message, Governor Ashcroft cited the possibility of voter fraud.

The measure was rejected by voters, despite vigorous and vocal support from Governor Ashcroft, a fiscal conservative.