By Daniel Barbarisi, Globe Correspondent, 11/06/2000

It's crunch time for those on both sides of Massachusetts' ballot questions, with most campaigns launching last-ditch efforts to galvanize voters for tomorrow's election.

Governor Paul Cellucci spent yesterday campaigning from under an umbrella in support of Question 4, his initiative to slash the state income tax to 5 percent. Chartering a pair of buses, Cellucci led a motorcade of supporters from the South Shore to Cape Cod, trying to fire up the faithful. "We're energizing the Republican base," said state Representative Brian M. Cresta, who is Republican state committee director. He rode with Cellucci.

"We're urging people to get out the vote for Governor Bush and Question 4. It was raining pretty heavily, but the hardy were there," said Cresta (R-Wakefield).

But opponents of Cellucci's tax intiative are by no means ready to concede defeat.

The Campaign for Massachusetts' Future - which is fighting against both the income tax cut and a proposal to provide tax credits for highway and bridge tolls and auto excise taxes - is waging a grass-roots campaign to mobilize its supporters on Election Day.

"We're making our phone calls, trying to get out the vote,"said campaign manager Jack McCarthy.

They rallied yesterday in Boston with Mayor Thomas M. Menino and have been making campaign stops throughout the state, McCarthy said.

Other campaigns, however, are trying more attention-getting tactics. As the race rounds the final curve, members of Grey 2k, who are pushing an initiative to ban dog racing in Massachusetts, rallied on the State House steps yesterday. In the crowd were about 300 activists and 100 greyhounds. Many of the dogs were former racers and were wearing rain gear featuring the "Yes on 3" message.

"Anytime you have animals used for human gain it opens the doors for bad apples and those who just want to use the animals for profit," said Scott Giacoppo, a law enforcement officer with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

But racing supporters are predicting victory and organizing election parties at both Massachusetts' tracks, as well as small-scale events across the state.

The battle over another measure, Question 5, has also remained contentious. Supporters of universal health care coverage are making one last effort to win voter approval, by having celebrities back the question in new TV advertisements.

"For the next couple days when they turn on their television sets, they're going to see famous actors and actresses coming out in support of Question 5," said Yes on 5's political director, Andre Guillemin.

"I'm crossing my fingers and holding my breath."

Question 5 foes said they will stick with their campaign message, that the measure would create too much bureaucracy and cost too much money.

"At this point in a campaign like this, voters have pretty much made their decision," said Steve Allen, a No on 5 spokesman.

"We'll be doing the same things we always have, but we're starting to wind down, as I imagine most campaigns are."

While other ballot battles continue to brew, the US Senate race is winding down.

Incumbent Edward M. Kennedy is slowly concluding his low-key reelection effort with a bus tour across the state. Kennedy's campaign rolled into Plymouth, Walpole, Danvers, and Cambridge on Saturday, holding several small rallies.

Meanwhile, Republican candidate Jack E. Robinson and Libertarian candidate Carla Howell continued to meet with supporters and hold radio and television interviews.

Secretary of State William F. Galvin, whose office reported last week that a record 4 million voters are now registered in Massachusetts, is expected today to release his prediction of the turnout.

Galvin has warned that the presidential race and the complicated ballot, which includes 8 questions, may mean long lines at polling places.