The presidential candidates were campaigning in one another's political backyards -- Gore hoping to spring an upset in GOP-leaning Florida, Bush in Minnesota where he hoped third-party candidate Ralph Nader might drain Gore's support and help Republicans win a state that usually goes Democratic.

"I have a Social Security reform that gives people a stake in the future," Bush said in Minneapolis. While proposing to allow investments in the stock market, the Texas governor said Gore offered only "an old and tired approach" on Social Security and other issues.

Appearing with his wife Tipper in the heart of the retirement belt, Gore told Kissemmee, Fla., seniors that Bush is using "soothing words" and "fuzzy math" to disguise serious flaws with the plan to privatize portions of Social Security.

The rhetoric was torrid on the subject with polls showing Gore gaining ground on the entitlement issue.

Former Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf said the Republican ticket was fighting "a war" to combat the Democratic criticism that the Bush plan would leave Social Security vulnerable to market shifts.

"This is not only untrue, it's a blatant lie," Schwarzkopf said in Punta Gorda in southwest Florida. Joining the general on stage, vice presidential candidate Dick Cheney accused Gore of "peddlng a lot of garbage" about Social Security.

Democrats were comfortable with the focus. "I ask you to save Social Security when you vote Tuesday," Gore said, allowing runningmate Joseph Lieberman, an Orthodox Jew popular in the retiree haven, to set out high stakes for Florida: "If we can win it here, we'll win it everywhere!"

Bush in Minnesota and Gore in Florida -- the topsy-turvy travel strategies underscored how untraditional and unpredictable this presidential race has become: Bush is pressing Gore in no fewer than six Democratic states, while fighting for his political life in the state governed by his brother Jeb.

Former President Bush, wife Barbara Bush and the GOP candidate himself will visit Florida before Tuesday's election, knowing the importance of the state' 25 electoral votes.

Republicans are grumbling that Bush could lose the state. Some are already pointing fingers at Jeb.

"We didn't give George W. the support he needed because of our overconfidence," said former Florida GOP chairman Tom Slade, who called Bush's state campaign "anemic."

Gore has kept Florida competitive largely because of his appeal with older voters, who make up almost a third of the electorate. In three recent polls, the vice president led Bush among seniors and on the issue of Social Security.

Susan MacManus, political scientist at the University of South Florida, said Gore's focus on Social Security has won him a lion's share of senior votes but he risks alienating younger voters by talking about little else.

As if on cue, the vice president flew to Tampa to promise a ban on new oil drilling off the Florida coast. He accuse Bush of waffling on the issue and giving voters "a real choice on the environment in six days." Bush spokeswoman Mindy Tucker said her boss supports the current moratorium on new drilling leases, but existing pacts would be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Neither Bush nor Gore have abandoned their ongoing targets: for Bush, Gore's credibility; for the vice president, Bush's relative lack of experience.

"This country needs a president you can believe in," Bush said in Minneapolis.

A Gore strategist said the vice president plans to close the campaign with an ad directly questioning Bush's readiness. The Gore camp's latest ad takes a far more gentle approach, simply touting the vice president's experience.

Opinion polls show the candidates tied or Bush slightly ahead.

Democrats and Republican alike say Bush has the easier road to the 270 electoral votes necessary for victory. He has a base of 16 states and 135 electoral votes, plus another half dozen or so states leaning his way. Florida is part of almost any Bush equation.

Gore was counting on a base of 10 states plus the District of Columbia with 107 electoral votes, but six of those states are still in doubt: Iowa, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

The Nader threat worried Gore allies. Former President Carter endorsed Gore for president Wednesday and said it would be "a serious and far-reaching mistake" for fellow Democrats to turn away from the party as some did from Hubert Humphrey in his 1968 loss to Richard Nixon amid the Vietnam War.

Bush has featured Nader in some campaign advertising but does mention the consumer advocate or his third-party effort during campaign speeches.

"Gore could perhaps lose a piece of his base," said Democratic consultant Jim Duffy. "Bush has got it a little easier."

A number of Democratic operatives fretted over a poll released Wednesday by the Pew Research Center which offered evidence that voters are increasingly comfortable with Bush's judgment, experience and personality.

Minnesota and its 10 electoral votes are up for grabs largely because of Nader, who threatens to crowd Gore in such key states as Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin.

Those six states alone add up to 68 electoral votes, more than one-fourth of total needed. Bush hadn't been to Minnesota in weeks, but added Wednesday's stop to take advantage of a Nader appearance and a shift in poll support. From Minnesota, Bush was heading to Iowa, another Democratic stronghold where Nader has been active.

In reform-minded Minnesota, led by independent Gov. Jesse Ventura, Bush called Gore a champion of big government. "Al Gore's massive spending would mean slower growth and higher taxes. And it could mean and end to our prosperity," Bush said.

Nader was in Madison, Wis., a hotbed of liberal and Democratic voters. "Big business is on a collision course with our democracy and we have to fight back," he said.