"BUENA VISTA -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Jerry W. Kilgore began the final 64-day sprint to Election Day yesterday with a bit of one-upmanship.

Instead of competing with his Democratic opponent, Lt. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, in a duel of political signs at this annual kickoff to the campaign season, Kilgore conceded the field to Kaine and donated the cost savings to hurricane relief on the Gulf Coast.

Kilgore said his campaign has sent $5,000 to the American Red Cross for the relief effort.

A spokesman for Kaine, whose forces had a massive sign effort in this blue-collar city, said Kilgore's effort was "very laudable" and said his campaign also will send money to the Gulf Coast.

Working all night in preparation for the 35th annual Labor Day parade here, Kaine's supporters had erected thousands of signs on almost every available patch of land, including an island in the Maury River and a giant hot-air balloon towering over Glen Maury Park.

A few Kilgore signs were outnumbered by red and white signs promoting the independent candidacy of state Sen. H. Russell Potts Jr., R-Winchester.

For the first time in the campaign -- and perhaps the last -- Kilgore, Kaine and Potts shared the stage at the park pavilion at the end of the 2-mile parade. Kilgore has declined so far to debate Potts, saying Virginians should listen only to the two candidates who have a chance of being elected governor. But Kilgore did agree to an Oct. 9 televised debate that would include Potts, if Potts reaches 15 percent in the polls.

In a fiery speech to about 150 people, Potts said, "It's great, ladies and gentlemen, to be on the stage with all three candidates -- finally!

"If you want to be governor, you've got to have the courage, you've got to have the character, you've got to have the principles to stand up here and face the music," he added.

Potts also predicted he would win the governorship in "the biggest upset in Virginia history. It only takes 34 percent."

Kilgore and Potts, who do not hide their dislike for each other, shook hands quickly.

Kaine has said Potts should participate in debates. So in Fairfax County next Tuesday, Kaine and Kilgore will debate before the Chamber of Commerce. Kaine and Potts will then debate after.

If the crowd attending the annual parade is any indication, the Nov. 8 election will have a light turnout. The crowd lining the parade route was noticeably thinner than in years past.

An informal sampling of parade watchers showed more support for Kaine than Kilgore.

"I think Kaine's more for the working man," Stanley Bradley said.

A state employee, who did not want to be identified, had a bright orange Kilgore balloon tied to the collar of his tiny dog. He supports Kilgore, he said, because "Democrats cut the budget. Republican governors have helped state employees."

Seated in a lawn chair, Betsy Tetzloff said she preferred Kaine because "he was a missionary." A Kaine campaign ad has spotlighted his role as a missionary in Honduras when he attended law school.

Joan Conner, who works at the Dana Corp. plant, said, "If [Gov. Mark R. Warner] says he's good, then he's good."

Warner, hoping to transfer his popularity to Kaine, sprinted beside the lieutenant governor along the parade route. Warner drew the biggest applause when the politicians were introduced.

During his speech, Kilgore joked that "our campaign has booked Governor Warner a hotel room in Manchester, N.H., from today through, let's see, Nov. 9."

The election is Nov. 8. Warner is eyeing a presidential bid in 2008, and New Hampshire is the first presidential primary state.

Potts, making a pitch for raising taxes and investing that money in infrastructure, said "corners were cut" in Louisiana and Mississippi with federal funding that might have prevented the hurricane devastation. Buena Vista is no stranger to natural disasters; the Maury River flooded frequently until a flood wall was built in the 1990s.

Kaine and Kilgore stuck to their contrasting campaign themes.

"We have come too far in the last four years to turn around and go back," Kaine said. The Republican ticket "stood against us every step of the way" as the Warner administration invested in schools, nursing homes, roads and public safety, he said.

Kilgore, on the other hand, said, "I am proud to have stood against the largest tax increase in Virginia history." He called himself "the only conservative running for governor in Virginia."

Potts was booed when he said he was proud of voting for the tax increase.

Also marching in the parade and making brief remarks were the candidates for lieutenant governor, state Sen. Bill Bolling, R-Hanover, and Democrat Leslie L. Byrne of Fairfax County, a former U.S. representative and state senator; and attorney general candidates Del. Robert F. McDonnell, R-Virginia Beach, and state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath.

All seven candidates cut their remarks short in Buena Vista to march in the annual Labor Day parade in Covington, a union-sponsored event." (Tyler Whitley, Richmond Times-Dispatch, September 6, 2005)

Contact Tyler Whitley at (804) 649-6780 or twhitley@timesdispatch.com