With 10 days to go until the election, Republican gubernatorial nominee Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. held a rally last night that drew 1,000 supporters to the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium.

Ehrlich billed the event as the first in a series of get-out-the-vote rallies that will take place between now and Election Day. Supporters paid $25 to eat hot dogs and drink beer at the event.

"When you go home tonight, as you're trying to fall asleep, think about eight more years of [Gov.] Parris Glendening and [Lt. Gov.] Kathleen Townsend," Ehrlich said to a loud chorus of boos. "No, I'm just kidding. Don't do that. Go home and think about the future and how important this race is. Think about that last step you can do to help us win this race."

Polls show the race between Ehrlich and Democrat Kathleen Kennedy Townsend is nearly even, and both campaigns have said they will be doing everything possible to get their voters to the polls.

Ehrlich asked his supporters last night to write personal letters to friends and family, put signs on their lawns and bumpers tickers on their cars and volunteer for his campaign in the coming days.

Ehrlich, who lives in Timonium, said it is especially important to draw a big turnout from the Baltimore suburbs, where polls show he is strongest.