As thousands of worshipers streamed out of Vienna's McLean Bible Church yesterday morning, Republican gubernatorial candidate Jerry W. Kilgore stood waiting to greet them, palm outstretched.
"Jerry Kilgore, good to see you," he said again and again, as members of the massive nondenominational congregation flowed past, many stopping to tell the former attorney general that he had their prayers -- and their votes. Later, he and U.S. Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) mingled with tailgaters before the Redskins football game.
Lt. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, the Democratic candidate for governor, started the day standing in the rain on a cliff's edge where Virginia overlooks Kentucky at Breaks Interstate Park. After leaving behind the spectacular autumn view, he went to rallies in the mining towns that dot the southwestern mountains.
Gov. Mark R. Warner, who has been Kaine's companion at many of the campaign's closing events, branched off to stump for his fellow Democrat in Richmond, Winchester and Charlottesville.
The appearances by the candidates and some of their most prominent supporters capped the final weekend of the 2005 campaign in Virginia.
Meanwhile, the campaigns increased the number of recorded phone messages and mailings they sent out, hoping to influence voters just before tomorrow's voting.
Democrats complained about two Republican efforts, including a campaign mailer sent out by the Kilgore campaign that was designed to look as if independent candidate H. Russell Potts Jr. was attacking Kaine's record.
They also took issue with a recorded phone call that used a portion of a Kaine speech in which he says he supports numerous restrictions on abortion. Kaine campaign officials said both efforts were distortions of Kaine's comments aimed at depressing Democratic turnout. The Kilgore campaign said the messages were consistent with Kaine's statements.
Kilgore steered away from rallies and microphones, instead sitting attentively in the pews of two large Fairfax churches, where his presence was never acknowledged from the pulpit.
At McLean Bible Church, Kilgore sat with about 2,500 others in a massive auditorium, singing along with contemporary religious music. Outside the church, he was greeted warmly by U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.), before she strode off to her car, yelling back to reporters, "I'm just going to church today!"
Kilgore also shook hands with Great Falls resident Mark West, 50, who said he had been undecided in the race, concerned both candidates were running negative campaigns. But West said seeing Kilgore at his church convinced him to vote for the Republican.
"I was looking for someone who was God-centered and Christ-centered. The fact that he's here indicates he's like that," West said.
