Al Gore also campaigned in his rival's home state as both sides dispatched surrogates to rally support in the homestretch.

Some of the exchanges became nasty, as Democrats waged a coordinated attack on Bush's competency and Republicans pressed their challenge of Gore's trustworthiness.

The race remained tight in some polls, with Bush maintaining an edge in others. He had 44 percent to 42 percent among likely voters in a CBS News-New York Times poll released Sunday. An ABC News tracking poll gave Bush 48 percent to 45 percent for Gore. The latest CNN-USA Today-Gallup survey on Sunday showed Bush 9 points ahead.

Even in polls where the race remains close, Bush had a decided advantage in enthusiasm of his supporters, which has increased since the debates. The enthusiasm of Gore's supporters dropped off and that can affect voter turnout.

All but one of the nation's Republican governors joined Bush here to launch the cross-country tour. The governors, traveling in seven teams, will visit 48 cities in 25 states this week.

Missing: West Virginia Gov. Cecil Underwood, who had conflicting campaign events as he wages a difficult re-election effort.

"Simply put, George, we believe in you," said Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge at the ceremony.

"It's going to be the good beginning of the final sprint. And I'm glad I'm sprinting with these good folks," Bush said.

The Bush campaign hopes the traveling GOP governors -- who encouraged Bush to run and supported him throughout the campaign -- can help rally undecided voters and address Democratic statements belittling Bush's experience as a two-term governor of Texas.

Groups of both Republicans and Democrats were hitting the road this week to appeal to a dwindling -- but electorally critical -- band of independent voters.

Gore strategists said they'll cap the campaign with "a relentless focus" on the issues in a series of seven speeches on topics ranging from health care to the environment.

"Right up until the last minute of the last day, he'll be talking about the issues," said spokesman Chris Lehane even as aides debated in Nashville whether Gore should intensify his criticisms of Bush.

On Saturday, Gore criticized Bush for advocating a diminished U.S. peacekeeping role in Europe, saying it demonstrated a "lack of judgment and a complete misunderstanding of history." The vice president held back on Sunday, however, from any personal criticism of his rival.

At Potter's House Ministries in Dallas, Gore shared the stage with Coretta Scott King and delivered a scripture-packed speech focusing on his agenda for families.

"An abundance of prosperity in the spirit cannot be measured in dollars and cents," Gore said. He said he was underscoring "something more basic than all our budget debates.

Democrats intensified efforts on the Sunday talk shows to challenge Bush's competency. The Republican held a 20-point lead over Gore in the CBS News-New York Times poll among those who put a candidate's personal qualities ahead of where they stand on issues.

"My white, male friends tell me he is a good old boy just like me. But I want a good president," Sen. Bob Kerrey, D-Neb., told CBS' "Face the Nation."

When Americans look at Bush, they see "a person who's unsure of himself, and therefore a person who is unacceptable to become president of the United States," Sen. John Breaux, D-La., told "Fox News Sunday."

The harsh words went both ways.

GOP activist Bill Bennett said he believed Gore to be a "habitual liar. ... It's not easy to say, but the record says it," the former education secretary and author of a best-selling book on ethics told NBC's "Meet the Press."

On the same show, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, a one-time Democratic presidential contender, dismissed Bennett as a "Republican hit man" and issued a warning to both parties.

"It does not serve any of us well for us to be calling these men liars because one of these men will be our next president," Jackson said.

Meanwhile, White House Chief of Staff John Podesta, asked how much Clinton would campaign for Gore, said the president can "play very much a supporting role" in key places and try to motivate core Democratic voters.

"But it's the vice president and his voice that's going to convince voters to take the course he's laid out ...." he said on CNN's "Late Edition."

Gore is striving to be seen as his own man, but Clinton has indicated a willingness to campaign -- and some top Democrats want him to have more of a role.

In Austin, New York Gov. George Pataki said he and the other governors hoped to try to respond to Democratic criticism of Bush's capacity to govern.

"To me it's just sad, that instead of being able to unite and inspire, all the Gore campaign is left with is to try to frighten and divide," Pataki said in an interview.

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