Election Day 2009

NORFOLK, Va. - At the last parties before the polls open in Decision 2009, music blared, people danced, and the candidates kept working.

In Virginia Beach Republicans celebrated the statewide ticket with Former Attorney General Bob McDonnell at the top. McDonnell took the stage to a roaring crowd and a standing ovation.

He explained, "We're in the fourth quarter," and urged supporters to get their friends to vote for him, Lt. Governor Bill Bolling, and Attorney General candidate Ken Cuccinelli.

Cuccinelli took the stage with a broom in his hand. The handle read "McBollinelli." Cuccinelli and his party are hoping to sweep Tuesday's election. Ahead in the polls, McDonnell several times thanked relatives, staff, and volunteers for helping the ticket head into the election, "looking toward victory".

Challenger, State Senator Creigh Deeds, spent Monday at rallies reminding supporters that, despite his position in the polls, "I'm here to say the only poll that counts opens at 6 a.m. (Tuesday) and closes at 7 p.m., so until that happens, until the polls close my friends, sleep is overrated. Let's get this done!"

Democratic Lt. Governor candidate Jody Wagner and Attorney General Candidate Steve Shannon joined Deeds in Roanoke and Richmond. Both teams have spent a year on the campaign trail. The energy at their respective last day events must translate into real votes.

Deeds told reporters candidly, "I need folks to help me make the phone calls and knock on doors to make sure we get the right turnout...."

McDonnell told his audience, "I know there's still an email that you can send out to your top 5 or 10,000 friends on that email list. I know you can still do a little tweeting on your Twitter before you go to bed tonight."

On Monday volunteers for both Republican Bob McDonnell and Democrat Creigh Deeds hit the pavement to campaign for their candidate

"It is a workout," said Janet Daingerfield, who is stumping for Deeds. "I will have done 200 doors by the day."

"We'll knock and if somebody's home we'll ask if their supporting the McDonnell ticket," said Dan Zimmerman, who is campaigning for McDonnell.

Armed with their candidates' message, their faces are the campaigns' last push to get voters to the polls.

Volunteers are also turning to the phones to get their message out.

"We take for granted the things that we have in this country...We think its always going to remain the way it is, but we got a wake up call in the last election that things don't always stay the same," Zimmerman added.

"I think it's very important people get the message out because a lot of people are confused about the difference in Democratic leadership in the state and Republican leadership," Daingerfield said.

Stay with WAVY.com for the latest in Decision 2009. Look for live streaming and up-to-date results in both statewide and local elections. 10 On Your Side's Political Team members Andy Fox and Kay Young will be in Richmond throughout the day.