Lieutenant governor hopefuls stump to the finish

The Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor yesterday made their final push to scoop up a large number of undecided voters, many of whom don't even know the candidates' names, much less their positions.

In a primary contest that has played second fiddle to a feisty gubernatorial campaign, a new poll released yesterday showed the lieutenant governor's race is virtually tied heading into today's primary.

Andrea Silbert spent most of yesterday in downtown Boston, shaking hands and talking with workers on their lunch breaks. At one point, when she was standing outside Downtown Crossing, Deval Patrick walked by with a throng of supporters and TV cameras. Patrick did not speak with Silbert, though Patrick's wife, Diane, came by later, giving Silbert a warm hug and speaking with her for several minutes.

``It was just a coincidence," Silbert said. ``We tend to cross paths a lot."

Timothy P. Murray , a three-term mayor of Worcester, spent most of the day making phone calls and doing radio interviews before a rally at City Hall Plaza in Worcester. The third candidate, Deborah Goldberg , spent the day campaigning in Randolph and shaking hands with commuters at South Station.

Candidates also sent final e-mails to supporters, encouraging them to vote in what could be the tightest race of the election. The candidates made tentative plans for their campaign parties tonight, hoping to make an appearance with their running mate before the 11 o'clock news.

All the candidates appeared at an election-eve rally in Dorchester.

At the event , which reflected the weeks of campaigning, the candidates for lieutenant governor were upstaged by the Democratic candidates for governor. Over the shouts from supporters of other campaigns, Silbert emphasized her theme of creating jobs, Goldberg talked about getting the state back on track and Murray mentioned his hometown of Worcester several times.

In Massachusetts, the lieutenant governor has no constitutional authority to take on new initiatives.

Besides being first in line to take over executive power in the absence of the governor, the main responsibility of the office is to oversee an eight-member council that approves judicial appointments and pardons.