Party leaders ramp up final efforts for election

Buffalo, NY (WBEN) It's the day before the election, Erie County's two top party leaders say they'll be busy getting out the vote.

Erie County GOP Chairman Michael Kracker says it's all about grass roots energy. "Making phone calls, knocking on doors, texting your neighbors, doing everything you can to make sure those who haven't voted that and we're tracking that in real time get out to vote. And I think both parties are going to be driving their bases out. We're certainly working very hard at the Republican committee level with our grassroots partners to push every common sense voter out and make sure we change the direction of our state," says Kracker.

Kracker says the best get out the vote message comes form the Democratic side. "As I often say, there is no greater get-out-the-vote tool for Republicans here in Erie County than Kathy Hochul," says Kracker. "People are so angry about what she has done to our state. They're angry about their utility bills. They're angry that their cars are getting stolen out of their driveways. They're angry that life is better in New York for an illegal immigrant than somebody who works hard to provide for their family, and that's Kathy Hochul's responsibility."

He says at this point, it's not about who's registered with which party. "Our focus is all on driving out voters to vote for our candidates. So we are we are in the push period of this of the election cycle, and we'll get right back at the voter registration portion after November 3. But right now, it's all focused on driving out our vote," adds Kracker.

Erie County Democratic Chairman Jeremy Zellner says it has been a busy two months getting out the vote. "Whether it's on television in the in the mailboxes or knocking on doors or making calls. So all weekend we had a robust effort to help make sure that early voting ends as strong as it started, and we've seen a tremendous, tremendous amount of support for our Democrats during early voting." says Zellner.

He says his message is clear. "Governor Hochul is the right choice for Western New York here, and that we've got candidates running all the way up and down the ballot. We've got folks running for County Clerk Steve Meyer. We've got Craig Bucki and Anne Joynt running for New York State Supreme Court Justice. There are Democrats running all the way up and down the ballots," says Zellner.

Zellner notes President Trump has been getting independents to side with Democrats. "The more times he goes out, he puts his foot in his mouth, and is bragging about how much money the fossil fuel industry in the United States is making while people are struggling every day to pay their bills. And so, I think he's doing a lot of work for us," but it's just his job to make sure that folks are able to vote on Tuesday.

Polls open at 6am in Erie County Tuesday.