The high turnout, which surprised even some of Carnahan's staff members, was testimony to the late governor's popularity.

The service will feature several prominent politicians, including President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore and former U.S. Senator Thomas Eagleton.

While a few Democrats expressed outrage at the television ads, most state and party officials refused to discuss politics.

Wilson "will gradually make the move with full deferrence to the fact we just suffered a tremendous tragedy, both the state and their families, but also the governor's office slowly," said John Robinson, Wilson's chief of staff as lieutenant governor.

The former lieutenant governor, Wilson was sworn in as Missouri's 52nd governor early Wednesday after Carnahan's death in a plane crash was confirmed.

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Sifford served a variety of positions in the governor's staff, including communications director and chief of staff.

Sifford died in the plane crash Monday that also claimed Carnahan and Carnahan's son, Roger. He was 36.

"Carnahan's legacy will have to encompass education," said Gov. Roger Wilson, who was sworn in to replace Carnahan early Wednesday morning.

In his first year in the governor's mansion, Carnahan was a driving force the then-controversial 1993 Outstanding Schools Act -- a $315 million tax increase that provided smaller schools, computers in classrooms, and a new education funding formula.

Carnahan's death left many Missourians and state politicians in shock. But, with less than a month until the election, many also are left wondering what will happen in the highly-contested U.S. Senate race between Carnahan, a Democrat, and Republican Sen. John Ashcroft.

However, Democrats said the time to decide who will replace Carnahan in the race is after the mourning.

Wilson takes over from Mel Carnahan, who was killed in a plane crash Monday night along with his son, Roger, and top Senate campaign aide Chris Sifford.

Candidates from both parties dropped advertising, ceased fundraising and cancelled public appearences. Most were unsure when they would resume.

Radio reporter and 1998 Missouri Journalism grad Missy Shelton Belote planned on being on board Gov. Mel Carnahan's plane that crashed Monday night just south of St. Louis.

But schedule changes by the governor's U.S. Senate campaign left her safely on the ground.

Early Tuesday morning, Lt. Gov. Roger Wilson was named Missouri's acting governor.

Just a few hours after the crash, Missouri's top elected officials held an emergency meeting, as the constitutional Disabilities Board, to declare Carnahan was unable to perform his duties as governor.

All that changed with the announcement of Gov. Mel Carnahan's plane crash Monday night, which thrust Wilson into a spotlight he does not want.

With just three weeks until the election, Missouri's major candidates for governor each reported still having more than $2 million to spend, according to campaign finance disclosure reports filed Monday.

Money like that can buy lots of TV time.

He forced his opponent, Sen. John Ashcroft, R-Mo., to defend himself on tax cuts, soft money, and eveh his choice not to attack his foe. For his part, Ashcroft spent his time promoting his education plan and record of accomplishment in the Senate.

The debate, broadcast live on public TV and held in front of about 150 people in the Gem Theatre in Kansas City's Jazz District, was the first -- and probably the last -- televised match-up between the pair this election season.

As in Friday's contest in St. Louis, the Democrat Carnahan was the more aggressive jumping at the first shot to attack a tax cut proposed by his Republican foe.