ROCKVILLE -- Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. concentrated on the populous Washington suburbs yesterday as they sought to inspire their supporters on the final weekend before Election Day.
Townsend, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, picked up a mid-afternoon endorsement from gun control activist Sarah Brady as part of her day-long blitz through Montgomery and Prince George's counties, while Ehrlich, the Republican candidate, walked door to door to meet voters.
As residents of Norbeck Meadows near Rockville raked their yards and walked their dogs, a throng of about 60 Ehrlich supporters marched down the street with their leader. On Ehrlich's cue, the group frequently broke into a cheer.
"I think you're going to be great," said Vicky Schwartz, who came out of her house to greet Ehrlich although she was ill. "OK. We got one right here!" Ehrlich said to his eager chorus, who whooped in response.
At one point a butter-yellow Studebaker pulled up, filled with supporters who handed out water bottles with "Ehrlich for Governor" labels.
"We bought this car in 1955, and we've been trying to get home ever since, but we've been stuck in traffic," passenger Joe Kenary of Silver Spring said to Ehrlich.
"Well, there's the ICC," Ehrlich replied, referring to a proposed east-west highway through Montgomery County that was blocked by Gov. Parris N. Glendening. "Oops, they forgot to build it!"
Ehrlich said he was spending many of his last campaigning hours in Montgomery and Prince George's "because, quite frankly, we're winning by very large margins everywhere else in the state."
A poll released last week by The Sun found Townsend to be significantly ahead of Ehrlich in Montgomery, Prince George's and Baltimore City, with Ehrlich having much more support than Townsend in Maryland's 21 other jurisdictions.
"If we can get big turnout here in Montgomery and Prince George's, this is where the election will be decided and Kathleen will win," said Del. William A. Bronrott, a Montgomery Democrat and Townsend supporter.
To boost her support, Townsend continued the statewide bus tour that began Monday. At one stop, Townsend and other gun control advocates gathered in front of the Montgomery County government building to sharply criticize Ehrlich's record on gun control and listen to Brady, whose husband was wounded during the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.
"As governor, she would preserve Maryland's gun laws, not weaken them," Brady said. "If Bob Ehrlich is moderate, I'm Moses."
Joining Townsend's bus tour were such prominent Democratic politicians as Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes and Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan.
At several stops in Montgomery, Duncan enthusiastically praised the leadership shown by Townsend during the three-week sniper shooting ordeal in the Washington suburbs.
"Kathleen was in touch with me on Day 1, offering state police assistance, serving as a constant source of strength and inspiration for me personally," Duncan said.
Townsend's day included rallies with Latino and Asian-American supporters, and it was set to finish with an event held by the Legislative Black Caucus in Landover.
Ehrlich began his day at Jimmy's Restaurant, a Fells Point restaurant and mandatory stop for campaigning politicians.
Ehrlich sat at Comptroller William Donald Schaefer's customary table and ate scrambled eggs (with ketchup) and hash browns with Gene Raynor, Schaefer's campaign manager.
After breakfast, Raynor and Ehrlich went to Dalesio's restaurant in Little Italy, where they spoke to more than 100 volunteers who plan to work the polls on Election Day.
Sun staff writer Tim Craig contributed to this article.