In Last Push, Both Parties Have Same Focus: Turnout

The Republican National Committee is sending hundreds of volunteers to Virginia in the final 72 hours to wave signs, attend rallies, knock on doors and make phone calls. It also sent an e-mail to hundreds of thousands of local supporters to recruit volunteers in Virginia for get-out-the-vote efforts.

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The Young Republicans are sending 60 to 70 out-of-state volunteers to Fairfax County this weekend to knock on doors, make calls and drop off campaign literature.

Such efforts will be bolstered by campaign stops throughout the weekend by Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell. Allen and Gilmore also will hit the campaign trail.

Republicans say the Democrats' efforts will fail because this is not a statewide campaign. Control of the Senate will rest on a handful of competitive races, several of which are being waged in traditionally Republican districts. In 2003, the last year when no statewide candidate was on the ballot, just 31 percent of voters went to the polls.

Several GOP candidates, such as Sens. Ken Cuccinelli II (Fairfax) and Nick Rerras (Norfolk), have spent years identifying key supporters in their districts.

And in the race between Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis (R-Fairfax) and Democrat J. Chapman "Chap" Petersen, Devolites Davis can rely on a get-out-the vote effort perfected over the years by her husband, Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va).

But Mark Rozell, a political science professor at George Mason University, said Democrats appear to "be more organized" overall.

The Republicans face more of a challenge this year because they have been out of the governor's mansion since 2002, and in recent years have been split between moderates and conservatives.

"It may be a feature of the party being somewhat splintered on what issues should be emphasized,'' Rozell said.

Democrats, backed by the national committee, will be flooding the voters on their list with mail, phone calls and multiple visits.

Labor unions, who view Virginia's elections as a test run for next year's presidential race, are also flooding the state.

The AFL-CIO is mobilizing 150 union volunteers in Hampton Roads, Northern Virginia and Roanoke, and they have knocked on 8,000 doors. Democrats also are getting help from the Human Rights Campaign, a Washington-based gay rights organization, and the Sierra Club.

"We have a ground operation here that is unmatched," said Gerald E. Connolly (D), chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, who is seeking reelection. "We have never seen anything like this here."

Staff writer Amy Gardner contributed to this report.