Last-minute rallies
seek lasting effects
Isle Democrats and Republicans
plan to keep pushing today
"We are having a ball," Lingle said as her campaign bus pulled out of the Windward City Shopping Center. "We brought the music and we have the speakers. We are taking this last day to energize the candidates and their supporters."
In Hilo, Democratic Party Chairman Brickwood Galuteria was waving signs and shaking hands before the traditional grand rally at Mooheau State Park.
"We are following tradition and we have come to Hilo, the center of the Democratic universe" in Hawaii, Galuteria said.
Standing on the Mooheau Park bandstand, U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie urged on about 200 fellow Democrats. "Are we going to win?" he roared. "Yeah!" the crowd roared back.
Abercrombie refused to consider a Democratic setback for Hawaii in the presidential election. "If it's close, Hawaii is going to bring victory," he said.
Last night was the 50th anniversary of Democrats meeting before Election Day in the small park, a tradition begun in 1954 when popular support for Democrats was rising but Republicans tied up all the better meeting places.
The last-minute campaigning is continuing not just in Hilo, but across the state, Galuteria said.
"We have finished the rallies across the state. We are making last-minute phone bank calls, and we are getting as many candidates as possible, but they have to do the rubber-meets-the-road thing," he said.
With Hawaii suddenly becoming a battleground state after two polls last week showed the race for president here a statistical dead heat, Democrats and Republicans have been rushing in the national help.
Democrats put up $200,000 in television ads and brought out former Vice President Al Gore and Sen. John Kerry's oldest daughter over the weekend. Republicans countered with a Halloween night rally featuring Vice President Dick Cheney.
"I would have to say that the rally for the vice president will stand out in my memory," Lingle said. "My overall feeling is that Hawaii is really becoming a two-party state. There is an unbelievable feeling to have both parties competing, and my overall impression is this campaign shows a strong two-party system."
Yesterday's rallies and sign-waving are not the end of the last-minute campaigning. The get-out-the-vote tactics will have both Democrats and Republicans working throughout Election Day.
Galuteria said the Democrats will keep up the phone bank calls to urge their supporters out to the polls.
"We are calling supporters, friends, relatives. At this moment we can't leave any stone unturned, because tomorrow is coming quickly," Galuteria said.
Brennon Morioka, chairman of the Hawaii GOP, said Republicans have a poll-watcher program that is designed to get their own supporters to the polls.
"Our poll watchers will be checking the poll books and making sure the people identified as supporter come down. If they haven't come down, we give them a call," Morioka said.
Voters going to the polls today will make choices for president, U.S. Senate, Congress and the state Legislature. Also, voters have to decide on four constitutional amendments and four City Charter amendments.
www.hawaii.gov/elections
