High-Wattage Politicians Help Allen, Webb Wrap Up

"I'm here today to offer support, encouragement and to say if folks can't vote for us because we are too conservative, then for goodness sakes, vote for positive change," Parker said.

At stops across the state yesterday, Allen, Webb and their surrogates claimed each campaign was surging.

"We have momentum on our side, because people in Virginia are focused on issues, ideas and a proven record of performance," Allen said at a noon rally at Norfolk International Airport.

As a symbol of how the Allen-Webb race is viewed nationally by party leaders, Clinton was joined by Senate Democratic Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) and Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), who runs the Senate Democratic campaign committee.

Former governor Mark R. Warner, campaigning with Webb, said in Norfolk, "This race was supposed to be a cakewalk [for Allen]. But we have all the momentum. We are going to turn out and take back our United States Senate seat tomorrow."

Kaine, who referred to Webb as "Senator Webb" a few times while campaigning with him yesterday, said, "I have a feeling we are going to win big."

Capping the day, Clinton accused the Republicans of scaring voters on taxes, terrorism and illegal immigration. "The campaign that has been run against Jim Webb is the most grotesque example of what they have been running across the country," he said.

Allen campaigned yesterday with a throng of politicians, activists and even some former National Football League players coached by Allen's father, George Allen.

At the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metro station, Allen cut short a morning campaign stop to greet voters after he was mobbed by reporters, supporters and protesters. Among them was activist Cindy Sheehan of California, who said she came to support "antiwar, peace" candidates. Her son was killed in Iraq.

Allen aides have been on guard since a liberal blogger disrupted campaign appearances in Charlottesville last week and near Harrisonburg on Saturday. They whisked the senator away quickly to make calls to morning radio talk shows that broadcast to conservative audiences across the state.

Allen noted in Norfolk that his campaign plane had flown over Craney Island, which is being dredged to expand the Port of Hampton Roads. During their first debate, Allen tested his challenger's familiarity with Virginia by asking him about the island, stumping Webb.

"It's important to know Virginia, know the people, know the issues," Allen told the crowd.

The former governor brought up the issue of the Iraq war in the TV commercial that aired last night. "Working with Senator Warner, I'll seek a new course for our brave troops that corrects mistakes instead of dwelling on them . . . and leaves Iraq an ally in the war on terror," he said.

Webb, in his closing stump speeches, highlighted his early opposition to the war in Iraq, the need to close the gap between the rich and the poor and, as he says, "standing up to this president."

Webb said of Allen: "This is somebody who should have run on his issues. But apparently he doesn't have a record to run on."

In the state's other closely watched ballot issue, supporters and opponents of a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage spent the last days of their campaign reaching out to voters in churches, over the airwaves and by phone.

Staff writers Amy Gardner, Michael D. Shear and Chris L. Jenkins contributed to this report.