Democrats hustling to get out the vote

The Democratic candidates for governor sprinted toward the tape yesterday, moving from radio appearances to get-out-the vote rallies and using automated phone calls and television ads to gain the attention of potential voters.

Brian J. Moran, a former delegate from Alexandria, shook hands at a church picnic in Henrico County before visiting his Richmond campaign office to call undecided voters and thank volunteers buzzing in and out with yard signs and encouraging words.

"All the anecdotal information, the people I see, it looks good," he said.

Recent polls have shown the candidates within the margin of error, with a chunk of undecided voters remaining. In the final push to Tuesday's primary, Moran is banking on the local elected officials who endorsed him -- including Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones -- to rally their supporters to secure his victory.

Last night, Terry McAuliffe, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, welcomed former President Bill Clinton to his McLean home for a fundraiser. Clinton's appearance with McAuliffe was his fourth of the campaign, not including his Feb. 7 keynote address at Virginia Democrats' Jefferson-Jackson Day fundraiser in Richmond.

Yesterday McAuliffe concentrated on his get-out-the-vote effort in Fairfax County, launching canvasses at his campaign offices in Springfield, Fairfax Station, Herndon and McLean.

Today, McAuliffe campaigns in Norfolk, Roanoke, Lynchburg and Bristol.

State Sen. R. Creigh Deeds of Bath County yesterday was rallying supporters, phone-banking, and attending house parties in Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Winchester, Manassas and Oakton.

Today, Deeds will attend church services in Hampton Roads before heading to a meet-and-greet in Petersburg and a house party in Richmond.

Earlier yesterday, Moran was in Norfolk and Hampton. He headed to his Charlottesville headquarters after the Richmond stop.

He's back in Richmond this morning before going on to Martinsville, Roanoke and Arlington County.

Virginia does not register by party, so any registered voter can cast a ballot in the Democratic primary. Polls are open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Larry Sabato, a political-science professor at the University of Virginia, said McAuliffe needs to do well in black communities, where turnout is predicted to be low, but he has the most money and perhaps the largest field operation of the three candidates.

Deeds has gained momentum and more funding for ads in Northern Virginia but may not have the time and money to finance the get-out-the-vote operation he wants.

"He's probably going to be outmanned, but it may not matter if he is moving up [in the polls] fast enough," Sabato said.

Moran's greatest Election Day asset may be the more than two dozen endorsements from mayors and elected officials who have local operations. That could pay off if they work the polls and work their constituencies for him, Sabato said.

Then there are the undecided voters. The numbers have ranged throughout the campaign from roughly 40 percent to 20 percent of likely voters. Sabato said the undecideds can throw off primary election polls.

"In primaries they don't end up breaking one way. They just don't vote," he said.

"It's like an optional class" -- only the most committed students will show up.

Contact Olympia Meola at (804) 649-6812 or .

Staff writer Jim Nolan contributed to this report.