Like a solid pinch-hitter coming off the bench in the bottom of the ninth inning, Catherine Baker Knoll the Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania lieutenant governor, wound her way through the area Thursday in hopes of delivering a game-winning hit for the party.

Mrs. Knoll was at Sharon's Premiere Hotel, Hermitage, for a luncheon hosted by the Mercer County Democrat Committee.

A who's-who of countywide Democrats and party supporters nearly 50 strong listened as Mrs. Knoll, as well as 50th District state senate candidate Kyle Klaric and 4th Congressional District hopeful Stevan Drobac, attempted to rally the Democratic troops for the final stretch of the campaign that concludes on Election Day, Nov. 5.

"You're all good hard-working Democrats and I see all these labor people here," said Mrs. Knoll, former state treasurer. "And I know you're all here to help us. It's so important to get out the vote. Last year at this time, a million absentee ballots went out -- a half-million to Democrat senior citizens and a half-million to Republican senior citizens. And we lost seven judges. Just remember all that because it was just a few weeks before the election last year when all the odds were with us then, and we lost all seven judges. Don't let that happen now."

Mrs. Knoll, in the middle of what she called a "lightning-quick" tour of the area that also included stops at a trio of Farrell companies -- Daffin's Candies, Klaric's Premier Hydraulics and Sharon Tube -- looked no worse for the wear, despite the fact she's been campaigning in "three or four counties every day" and said she will continue to do so through Election Day.

Recent statewide polls indicate Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ed Rendell may hold up to an 18 percent edge over his Republican opponent Mike Fisher with less than three weeks remaining. And while Democrats might have good reason to be confident, Mrs. Knoll said they are smart enough to not let that alter their approach.

"I know we can win this year," she said. "And so does Ed Rendell. He's a man of leadership, initiative, vision and energy ... But we need you. You're the bottom line. It's only 19 days (until the election); I'm counting the days, too. And I'm trying to go to as many counties as I can per day. And, let me tell you, so is he. We're not stopping. We're not slowing down. We don't even listen to the polls. Polls don't vote, people vote. Once you get complacent, then things happen."

If there were a central theme to the nearly 90-minute affair, it was perhaps best summed up by Mercer County Democrat Committee chairman Bob Lark.

"If you vote the incumbent, you vote to stay the course," an enthusiastic Lark said. "Vote the challenger and you vote for change."

Klaric and Drobac certainly would agree as they try to wrest offices from Republican incumbents.

"I know it's time for a change and I know we can make that change," Mrs. Knoll concurred.

"If you want change, we all have to pull together and come out and vote that day. We really do," Klaric said.

"I think the key for us to be successful on Nov. 5 is to pull a straight lever of Democrat," said Drobac, who is running to represent the 4th District that includes Farrell, West Middlesex, Shenango Township and a sliver of Hermitage.

The trio also emphasized their stances on several issues that have been important to Democrats this fall, including jobs and the economy.

Particularly offensive, Klaric said, has been the drain of American jobs to Mexico over the last few years.

"When is this going to stop?" Klaric asked. "When are people going to make a stand and say enough is enough? ... We cannot send one more job south."

"We need good-paying jobs, not just minimum-paying jobs," Drobac emphasized.

Mrs. Knoll also said Democrats will push for a change in the way public schools are funded, emphasizing that the need is critical because "66 of 501 public school districts in Pennsylvania are operating in the red."

Among the dozens of local politicians who also made appearances at the luncheon were: state Rep. Michael C. Gruitza, Hermitage, D-7th District; Sharon Mayor David O. Ryan; Farrell Mayor Bill Morocco; and Mercer County Commissioner Olivia Lazor.