STEPHANIE KLEIN-DAVIS The Roanoke Times

Bob McDonnell (right), Republican candidate for governor, held a GOP rally in Roanoke on Wednesday. McDonnell was accompanied by Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (from left), attorney general candidate Ken Cuccinelli and Mitt Romney. Romney, a former Massachusetts governor and presidential candidate, encouraged supporters to get out the vote.

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Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell and his statewide ticket mates embarked on their final push of the campaign Wednesday, appearing in Roanoke with former presidential candidate Mitt Romney to encourage an enthusiastic group of 200 supporters to get out the vote.

McDonnell, lieutenant governor incumbent Bill Bolling and attorney general candidate Ken Cuccinelli appeared with a slate of House and area candidates at the Roanoke Regional Airport on the first day of a six-day push around the state.

"I'm here to fight for a team that I believe is going to make Virginia again a shining light for the entire nation, a place where jobs are growing, where education is leading the nation," Romney told the crowd.

McDonnell reiterated his campaign's key platform points on jobs, energy development and keeping taxes low. But he focused largely on pushing supporters to take an active role during this final week before Election Day.

"If you have enthusiasm, which we've seen here today, it's got to translate into action," McDonnell said. "That's what this last six days is all going to be about, it's the grass-roots phone calls and door-knocking that's going to make the difference."

The race between McDonnell and Democrat Creigh Deeds is viewed by many national observers as an early referendum on President Obama a year ahead of the 2010 midterm elections. Both campaigns have drawn national scrutiny and high-profile supporters, such as Romney for McDonnell on Wednesday and Obama for Deeds the day before.

Deeds adviser Mo Elleithee said in a conference call Wednesday that the key for Democrats will be replicating last year's get-out-the-vote effort: "If we can get out a significant number of people who voted for Barack Obama and Mark Warner in 2008, then we are very much in this game."

But enthusiasm for the GOP ticket appears to be up from recent years. The airport crowd dwarfed that of a rally for Republican candidate Jerry Kilgore in 2005, and the mood seemed upbeat and lighthearted.

"The wind is so heavy I'm afraid if it keeps up I'm going to break my hair," Romney said.

He also questioned the meaning of the state slogan "Virginia is for lovers."

McDonnell responded, "It's for lovers of elections, that's why you're out here. It's for lovers of freedom and free enterprise and the NRA."

The Deeds campaign responded to the event with a criticism of Romney and McDonnell.

"They've both undergone election-year makeovers," said Deeds spokesman Jared Leopold. "He [Romney] went from the center to the right; McDonnell went from the right to the center, or is trying to. Like ships passing in the night."

Deeds will appear for a get-out-the-vote rally with volunteers at his downtown Roanoke office this afternoon.

Both candidates plan to tailgate before tonight's Virginia Tech football game in Blacksburg.

Staff writer Michael Sluss contributed to this report.