National Democratic chairman Howard Dean rallied supporters in Fargo and Grand Forks on Saturday, while Republican Gov. John Hoeven joined GOP volunteers and legislative candidates in both cities for a final get-out-the-vote push.

More than 90,000 people have already voted, either by turning in absentee ballots or by visiting early-voting precincts in some cities, Secretary of State Al Jaeger said. The early voting total tallied Friday equaled 29 percent of the turnout in the 2004 election, Jaeger said.

A Democratic presidential candidate has not carried North Dakota's electoral votes in 44 years, and Dean predicted the margin between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain could be less than 1,000 votes.

"We need your help. This is a very close race," Dean told an audience of about 300 people at the Fargo Civic Center. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't think we could win North Dakota."

Earlier, Dean spoke to more than 200 people in Grand Forks' Alerus Center, which has been open all week as an early voting center for Grand Forks County residents.

In both cities, he was accompanied by Democratic state candidates and North Dakota's all-Democratic congressional delegation - Sens. Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan and Rep. Earl Pomeroy.

Hoeven spoke to rallies at Republican campaign offices in Fargo and Grand Forks, and went door-to-door Saturday with GOP legislative candidates from two Grand Forks districts. He planned to join candidates for door-to-door visits in Fargo on Sunday.

"There are a lot of people out working very hard," said Don Larson, Hoeven's campaign manager. "People are very motivated."

Both Republicans and Democrats had their get-out-the-vote machinery running at full speed Saturday, with volunteers calling potential supporters and distributing literature at homes.

"Nobody can take anything for granted," Hoeven said. "That means a coordinated effort statewide. That means knocking on doors, making the calls, getting the volunteers out."

Said Pomeroy: "The home stretch of an election just involves old-fashioned retail politics, seeing as many people as possible."

"The TV time is purchased. The debates are over," Pomeroy said. "It's really just now the stretch run of making sure you get the supporters to the polls."

Dean ended his remarks in Fargo by urging his audience to vote early and call others to ask them to do likewise. Fargo resident Jesse Hegland, 27, who grew up in Sheyenne, called it the most important message of Dean's speech.

"He can give all the speeches he wants, and we can sit here and have a pep rally and get excited about that," Hegland said. "But the most important thing, you actually have to go out and do something."