"Hawai'i may very well have the deciding voice in picking the next president," Gore said.

Alexandra Kerry, the candidate's older daughter, greeted the audience with an "aloha" and a "mabuhay."

"My father cares a great deal about your community," she said.

Rebecca Breyer — Alexandra Kerry greets supporters at Farrington High School in Kalihi. The Democratic presidential candidate's elder daughter said last night, "My father cares a great deal about your community." Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser

Alexandra Kerry is expected to wave signs this morning outside of Jarrett Middle School in Palolo.

Last night's event was aimed at motivating the Democratic faithful to get out the vote on Tuesday. But the party also wanted to attract Filipinos who might be turning to Bush.

The Advertiser's Hawai'i Poll found that Filipinos interviewed favored the president over Kerry 56 percent to 30 percent, with 14 percent undecided.

Rebecca — Kyler Oakley-Gibbs, 5 months, of Palolo, joins his mom, Jeanne Oakley, in waving to passing traffic outside Farrington High School. Last night's rally was originally a campaign event for Rep. Neil Abercrombie but was expanded to include Al Gore and Alexandra Kerry.*Another former governor, John Waihee, welcomes Gore, who said last night: "I don't want the Supreme Court to pick the next president, and I don't want this president to pick the next Supreme Court." Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser

"It embodies the aspirations of our community," Martinez said. "I know that in their hearts, they know that. But right now, it's half and half for president. And many people are keeping it to themselves who they are going to vote for."

Hawai'i Republicans, meanwhile, prepared for a visit tomorrow evening from Vice President Dick Cheney for a rally at the Hawai'i Convention Center.

Gov. Linda Lingle flew to the Big Island yesterday for a campaign swing for Bush and state Republican candidates in Kona. The campaign tour will stop in Hilo today, on O'ahu and Kaua'i tomorrow, and on O'ahu and Maui on Monday.

Lingle said she hoped the Cheney visit would improve Republican turnout and reach new or undecided voters.

Al Gore greets former Hawai'i Gov. Ben Cayetano after the former vice president and 2000 presidential candidate's speech. Democrat Cayetano was succeeded as governor by Republican Linda Lingle. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

Two Hawai'i newspaper polls this month showed Bush and Kerry in a dead heat in a state where a Republican presidential candidate has not won in two decades.

Kerry, while campaigning in Florida, spoke to Hawai'i television stations yesterday and said he would be better than Bush on healthcare, the economy and the war in Iraq. He said he would work to allow the re-importation of cheaper prescription drugs from Canada, target tax cuts to the middle class, and get more countries to provide support to U.S. forces in Iraq.

"Ninety percent of the coalition casualties are American. That's disgraceful," Kerry told KHNL-TV. "Ninety percent of the cost is American cost. That's wrong. George Bush has not done the diplomacy and the statesmanship necessary to be able to bring other countries to the table so they are part of this effort.

Another former governor, John Waihee, welcomes Gore, who said last night: "I don't want the Supreme Court to pick the next president, and I don't want this president to pick the next Supreme Court." Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

At Farrington last night, many Democrats said they were surprised the race was so tight. Lori Richardson, the director of philanthropy at The Nature Conservancy, described the election as the most important of her lifetime. "I'm hoping the polls were just a blip that has gotten everyone nervous," Richardson said.

Gore, who was swarmed by well-wishers outside the school, was careful to mention that Kerry supports greater benefits for Filipino veterans of World War II and a Native Hawaiian federal recognition bill that would create a process for sovereignty. Bush has not taken a position on the recognition bill, and Republicans point out that Kerry only mentioned it publicly in Hawai'i this month.

The former vice president, who beat Bush handily in Hawai'i four years ago, referred several times to the fractious end to the 2000 election that was ultimately settled by the U.S. Supreme Court. "I don't want the Supreme Court to pick the next president," Gore said, "and I don't want this president to pick the next Supreme Court."

Walter Villalba, an economics student at the University of Hawai'iiManoa, said Democrats need to have a stronger presence in the Filipino community now that Lingle has made state politics more competitive.

"I think they need to get out into the community and listen to people more, like tonight, instead of us coming to them," Villalba said.