Vitriol Fills the Air and Airwaves as Allen and Webb Battle On

Later, Allen talked to reporters in front of the Philip Morris plant, where the company produces about 240 billion cigarettes a year. Allen condemned Webb and Democrats as having run "the most negative, smearing campaign that Virginia has ever seen."

Even as he said that, the National Republican Senatorial Committee began running an attack ad on his behalf, saying Webb has written books that stereotype women as promiscuous objects. "His novels? Some are graphic, even deviant," a female announcer says in the commercial.

Allen also began running an ad accusing Webb of wanting to give Social Security benefits to illegal immigrants.

Webb advisers condemned the ads, saying they are "full of lies." At the Obama rally, Webb again accused Allen of waging a "classic Karl Rove campaign, designed to divide people, to go after their emotions, to assassinate people's character. This has been an incredibly negative campaign."

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee began airing a television commercial attacking Allen by citing negative comments from Virginia newspapers. "Allen is a mediocre senator. He is in lockstep with Bush. An administration parrot," the ad says.

At the Virginia Union rally, Obama called on Virginians to send President Bush and Republicans a clear message by voting Allen out of office. Of the voters across the country, he said, "When they start paying attention, the folks in power right now are in trouble."

Warner and Kaine also helped to whip up the crowd. Kaine called Webb "a spectacular, spectacular candidate." Warner mocked Allen, saying the "cakewalk" that pundits had predicted for the incumbent was turning into a victory for Webb.

"It's five days before, again in Virginia, we make history," Warner roared.

Staff writers Tim Craig and Bill Turque in Washington contributed to this report.