By Debra Jasper
and Spencer Hunt
Enquirer Columbus Bureau

Ohio Gov. Bob Taft rolled through six counties on a 1940s-vintage train, powered by steam engine, Saturday, giving whistle-stop speeches and urging Ohioans to vote on Election Day.

The governor's opponent, Democrat Tim Hagan, was making the same pitch as he toured his home base in Youngstown and Cleveland by motor home.

The theme all day Saturday and again today was getting supporters to the polls. The secretary of state's office predicts fewer than half of the registered voters will do so.

At his first stop Saturday, after the Johnstown High School band played "Crazy Train" by Ozzy Osbourne, Mr. Taft told the crowd that Republicans can't take his victory for granted. He reminded them that President Bush barely carried Ohio two years ago and Bill Clinton won it in 1992 and 1996.

"This race is far from over," he shouted as he stood on a platform at the rear of the train in Newark. "Please, get your neighbors and your friends and get out and vote."

When Mr. Hagan arrived Saturday morning at Democratic Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones' campaign headquarters, union volunteers were collecting their get-out-the-vote marching orders.

About 600 union members planned to knock on the doors of 160,000 households in Cleveland Heights, Richmond Heights, Parma and other Democratic strongholds.

"This is where it really happens," Mr. Hagan said with excitement, looking around the offices. "Look, they're getting their precinct assignments."

Mr. Hagan, with his wife, actress Kate Mulgrew, his 82-year-old mother, and 11 of his 13 brothers and sisters, spent the day traveling by motor home through Cleveland and Youngstown - his home base.

Mr. Taft also campaigned in his base, traveling 91 miles on his train trip through such small towns as Coshocton and Sugarcreek. About 200 people showed up to cheer the governor in each town. Another 130 supporters, many of them with children, traveled with Mr. Taft on the train.

The trip had a festive feel, with high school bands, hot dog stands and red, white and blue banners providing the backdrop for Mr. Taft's speeches.

As the crowds shouted "four more years," Mr. Taft promised that if elected he would work to lower the cost of prescription drugs and promised to invest more in higher education.

He thrashed Mr. Hagan, saying he'd commute every death sentence and bring casino gambling to Ohio.

Unlike the governor, Mr. Hagan had no planned rallies, instead stopping at a coffee house and campaigning with football tailgaters in Youngstown.

Throughout the day, he criticized Mr. Taft for failing to deal with the state's budget crisis and for being bought off by banks, utilities, insurance companies and other special interests.

Mr. Hagan - who is behind in the polls by double digits - sounded at times as if he expects to be defeated. "I knew the odds going into this," he said, hoarse from campaigning. "I think I've got an outside chance."

Still, he remained upbeat. "Turnout is the key," he said.

Volunteers agreed. Angela Caldwell, a member of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union, said she's worried that the economic recession will mean layoffs or at least pay freezes for workers. That's why she's campaigning for Mr. Hagan.

"We're probably looking at no pay increases for the next couple of years," she said. "One thing I know about Tim Hagan, he supports collective bargaining."

Dan DiLiberto, the mayor of Eastlake, a town near Cleveland, is worried Democrats are too complacent to go to the polls. "It's a really close election," he said. "I think that Taft will win."

Mr. Taft has the same fear about Republicans. He said the GOP was "out-hustled" on Election Day in 2000 and he is determined not to let that happen again.

"We have to fire people up. Our polls show Democratic voter intensity is up this year," Mr. Taft said. "With the economic issues out there, people concerned about their jobs, you can't take anything for granted. We've got people manning the phones, working to get people out on Tuesday."

Despite his worries, the governor acknowledged this race hasn't been as tough as his race four years ago, when Democrat Lee Fisher matched him in spending. This time, Mr. Hagan hasn't had enough money to run his own television ads. Mr. Taft, however, has spent $9 million.

"Four years ago there was a ground war and an air war," Mr. Taft said. "This is different because Tim hasn't been on TV. It's a little less intense."

Mr. Taft and his wife, Hope, traveled in style during the trip in a private car with a white, lace-covered dining table, kitchen and bath. "How's this for campaigning, eh?" Mr. Taft asked, sitting down at the table. "Not bad, not bad."

Mr. Taft, who was relaxed and cheerful, even took a turn at playing engineer, donning conductor's pin-striped cap and driving the train for a two-mile stretch.

Officials who coordinated the train trip, which cost $4,000, said it is the first one an Ohio governor has taken in 60 years. Mr. Taft said he decided to campaign on a steam-engine train because it was a unique way to inspire voters.

Also traveling on the train were candidate for lieutenant governor Jennette Bradley, House Speaker Larry Householder, Ohio Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Stratton and former House Speaker House Jo Ann Davidson.

When introducing Mr. Taft, she said, "The governor has traveled by car, by bus and by plane but today we're doing it the right way, we're traveling by train."

Ms. Davidson said she was having a great time. "I told the conductor, `This is so great for kids. They're getting to ride a train and eat all the doughnuts they want," she said, laughing. "He said it's not so bad for the adults, either."

Those who showed up at the train tracks relished the idea of Mr. Taft campaigning the old-fashioned way - from the back of a steam-engine train.

Steve Lantz, 37, a lumber salesman in Newark, said he's voting for Mr. Taft but that isn't why he drove to the train station.

"I came to see the train. That's terrible, isn't it," he said, laughing.

Marc Zirille, 25, director of the Big Red Marching Band in Johnstown, said nearly every member of the band came out to play music for the governor.

"They called us and asked if we would play and I said yes, right away," said Mr. Zirille, of Westerville. "I like what he's done for education. I voted for him four years ago and I'm voting for him again."

Mr. Taft said he loved the music - even if he didn't know what songs the band was playing.

After "Crazy Train" was played, the governor was asked if he liked Ozzy Osbourne.

Mr. Taft replied, "Who?"

Email djasper@enquirer.com and shunt@enquirer.com