SPRINGFIELD, Va. - There are just three days left in the race for Richmond, and gubernatorial candidates Democrat Creigh Deeds and Republican Bob McDonnell are battling it out to the end.

These last few days can be the most challenging for political campaigns. McDonnell has a double-digit lead in the polls but Deeds says he's pushing right to the end.

Both men are crisscrossing the state at a frantic pace looking for last-minute votes.

"The only poll that counts is going to be taken on Tuesday," said Deeds.

McDonnell, appearing at rallies in Springfield and Fredericksburg Saturday, has a double-digit lead in the polls. "I know not everybody is going to vote for me," he said. "We've got to do a better job creating jobs, creating opportunity, building roads, [and] building schools."

Deeds is making more road trips during these final days. He was in Alexandria (web | news) Friday and southern Virginia and Leesburg on Saturday.

"I've been down in the polls before," said Deeds. "I'm not worried. [I'm] focused on Tuesday [and] getting out the vote."

Both camps have had their big political guns.

"Send Creigh Deeds and the Barack Obama (web | news | bio) administration a very clear message -- hands off our liberties," said Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Deeds is hoping for an Obama bump with 300,000 flyers of the president and Deeds standing side by side.

From each side, on the phones and in the streets, it's now down to the wire. "What really matters is the turnout at this point," said Jared Leopold, spokesperson for the Deeds campaign. "It's all about going out and finding the right voters.

Finding those voters will be tougher than ever. Experts predict one million fewer voters will make it to the polls this year.

Deeds is heading to Leesburg Saturday night for Halloween festivities there. McDonnell will be on the road to Richmond and Williamsburg.

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