By AP/KWMU/NPR
St. Louis, MO – Missouri is neither red nor blue, and the U.S. Senate race there is one of the closest in the nation. The race between Sen. Jim Talent and Democratic challenger Claire McCaskill has been tight since last spring.
President Bush has appeared in support of Talent, While Democratic Sen. Barack Obama has visited the state Sunday for McCaskill.
Today (Monday), the USA Today released a poll that showed McCaskill is leading 49-45%, but that tally is still within the margin of error.
McCaskill told more than a thousand boisterous supporters in Forest Park not to be intimidated by talk that Republicans are better at getting out the vote.
"If I read one more time about the vaunted GOP turnout machine, I'm going to get nauseous," McCaskill said. "Do you think Missourians are more motivated to stay exactly the way we are now, or do you think they are motivated for change?"
It was billed as a rally for McCaskill and other Democratic candidates, but they were just the warmup for Obama, who drew the loudest cheers. "Now this is the 'show me' state," Obama said. "They looked at George Bush and said 'show me' and they didn't like what he showed them. And so they're ready for a change."
Speaking Sunday to more than 50 people at a rally in Cape Girardeau, Talent won strong ovations by speaking against abortion and gay marriage. But he spent most of his time on economic issues, especially his efforts to boost ethanol and biodiesel fuel production.
"This new initiative is going to mean for Missouri what oil has meant for states like Texas," Talent said.
After Talent spoke, his senior campaign adviser took the podium and directed the crowd's attention to two volunteers carrying sign-up sheets for a final get-out-the-vote effort.
"You're now the most important people in the room," Lloyd Smith told the volunteers. Smith said more than 10,000 staff members and volunteers from several Republican campaigns will combine their efforts for a final voter turnout push of making phone calls and knocking on doors.
McCaskill began Sunday with a national television appearance on "Fox News Sunday" and visited several predominantly black churches in St. Louis to fire up supporters before Election Day.
While McCaskill spent months touring rural Missouri trying to cut into Talent's support there, she is spending the final days before the election motivating her traditional urban base in St. Louis and Kansas City.
To hear a report from NPRs Brian Naylor, as it aired on Morning Edition, click here.