He believes, for instance, in preserving current levels of defense spending.

On education, the issue many 8th District voters said is most important to them, Capuano said he does not support radical education reform, preferring to take the time to study how the government can be effective in education policies.

And he says he's even willing to debate the legitimacy of federal government intrusion into education itself.

"That's the biggest part of the rock," he says. "To convince other Congressmen that it should be a federal issue."

Election Day

As voters trickled to the polls on the coldest day of the year yesterday, challenger Hyde reflected on the campaign.

Although he was considered a far long-shot, Hyde said he began the campaign by recognizing the votes he could acquire.

"Seventy-seven percent of the Democrats didn't vote for Mike [in the primary.] And a lot of them were pretty disappointed...In 1996, I lost [the Republican primary] by 8,000 more votes than he won by."

Hyde, who makes his living as a consultant on corporate efficiency, said he entered the campaign fully expecting to do well.

"I won't concede until the race is over," he said yesterday.

Hyde said he expected strong support from the district's black residents and has spent the better part of the week campaigning in Dorchester and Roxbury.

Capuano spent the morning on the stump, visiting every ward in the district.

After a quick lunch with his wife, he campaigned some more.

He did not, his advisors said, take his assured victory for granted.

Capuano faced his toughest challenge of the season in the Democratic primary Sept. 15.