MONTEREY — Gov. Gray Davis crisscrossed California on Sunday in the first half of a final campaign sprint aimed at transforming a steady lead in the polls into triumph in Tuesday's election.
In a daylong blitz that began at a Sunday morning worship service in Los Angeles and ended with rallies in Monterey and Oakland, the incumbent Democrat touted his record on education, health care, labor issues, gun control and abortion rights.
"We're moving the state forward, my friends!" Davis said to the cheers of about 200 supporters at a rally at the Scottish Rite Center in San Diego.
Davis chided his Republican opponent, Bill Simon Jr., for having voted only occasionally in recent elections. Davis challenged his supporters to reject that example.
"We're going to vote for four more years of progress!" Davis shouted. "We're going to vote for everyone on this stage! We're going to vote for a Democratic sweep!"
Drawing distinctions between his views and the more conservative ones held by Simon, Davis told San Diego supporters that Simon "has a totally different view of this state's future."
Davis has maintained a lead over Simon in polls taken throughout the race. At the same time, many voters -- even Democrats -- say they don't like the governor.
Lending uncertainty, polls show that an unusually large number of likely voters -- about one in five -- have not decided which candidate to support.
While his campaign strategist, Garry South, predicted Sunday that Davis would win by nine to 12 points, Davis has traveled the state, trying to fire up unenthusiastic Democrats and burnish his image with uneasy voters.
During the Sunday service in the predominantly African American West Angeles Church of God in Christ, Davis made a game effort to rise above his wooden personal style, swaying slightly and clapping uncertainly to the beat of the gospel-style hymns belted out by a 78-voice choir.
Davis was joined at the service by Democratic U.S. Rep. Diane Watson of Los Angeles and some of the Democratic candidates for statewide offices.
The congregation responded with warm applause when Davis strode to the pulpit to sum up the accomplishments of his first term. Davis prefaced his comments by noting that his wife, Sharon, "brought me back to the Lord about 15 years ago."
Davis emphasized his record on education. "Schools are getting better," he said. "We're on the right road."
