Energy was high in the final hours of Bill Durston's uphill push to take the 3rd Congressional District from U.S. Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Gold River).

Durston campaign spokesperson Pat McConahay said her election office was besieged by volunteers Tuesday who wanted to make get-out-the-vote calls for the Democrat.

"We're also calling brand-new voters out here, letting them know that they need to support not just Obama, but the local candidate Bill Durston," she said.

Though registration in CA-03 favors Republicans, and a Lungren campaign spokesman said earlier Tuesday that Lungren would be in good shape if his party turnout matched that of Democrats, McConahay said the calculus isn't that simple.

She's herself talked to many Republicans who plan to cross party lines, she said, and she believes Durston will also do well among the critical decline-to-state vote.

Over the weekend, Durston's campaign made more than 20,000 phone calls to district voters, she added.

Durston's campaign was less sure whether high turnout across the board helps or hurts the Democrat.

"We're feeling we've done all we can do," she said. "It's so tight in registration that with participation, it's anybody's guess."

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