Abercrombie remains in front by five percentage points. That compares to the 8 percentage point lead the Democrat showed in a September poll.

But with 17 percent saying they still haven't made up their minds, neither side is forecasting victory, and both said voter turnout will be the deciding factor in what is perhaps the most combative race in Hawaii this year.

The poll is based on the responses from 424 registered voters in the 1st Congressional District who were interviewed by telephone Oct. 24-28 by Mason-Dixon Political/Media Research Inc. of Columbia, Md.

Swindle said the results mirror a poll his campaign took at about the same time and called them encouraging.

"I've very optimistic based on that, but we've got a lot of work to do and the race ain't over until the fat lady sings," he said.

Abercrombie felt the margin of error lessened any possible erosion in support, and showed that his opponent's advertisements "savaging me and my personal character" have not been successful among voters.

"They know stink attacks when they see them and hear them, and I have every confidence on Tuesday, when all the votes are counted up, that they'll render a judgment," he said.

This is the second congressional match-up between the two men, whose backgrounds and politics are about as diametrically opposed as is possible.

Abercrombie, 58, is a former anti-Vietnam War protester who has has been part of the Hawaii political scene since 1970 and now has one of the most liberal voting records in the House. Swindle, 59, is a retired Marine who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam, a staunch conservative who was national spokesman for Ross Perot's 1992 presidential bid.

Two years ago, Abercrombie won a second term to the House with 54 percent of the vote, while Swindle garnered 43 percent.

In the current campaign, though, Swindle started with much higher name recognition and got the support of such GOP figures as House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Abercrombie, on the other hand, has the state's strong Democratic tradition behind him and the fact that no incumbent has ever lost a congressional reelection bid in Hawaii.

Abercrombie says he took the higher road this year, and poll respondents seem to agree. When asked who did the best job in addressing issues, 38 percent chose Abercrombie as opposed to 29 percent for Swindle.

But indicating the acrimonious nature of the race, 47 percent felt he still spent more time attacking his opponent than explaining what he would do in Congress. Swindle fared even worse, with 56 percent believing he was mostly on the attack.

The race has been an expensive one for both men.

According to Federal Election Commission records as of Oct. 16, Swindle raised $408,961 and had $70,680 left.

Abercrombie got $537,297 in contributions and had a balance of $101,096.

In other poll results:

Both men have about a 40 percent favorable rating.

Voters with annual incomes less than $25,000 appear to strongly favor Abercrombie, while those making more than $70,000 give solid support to Swindle.

Support among Japanese and Caucasian voters appears to be evenly split. Hawaiian voters seem to be strongly in Abercrombie's camp, while Filipino voters are tending toward Swindle.

Twenty percent of the respondents are undecided.