NASHVILLE--In a presidential campaign where every tour, every day and every week has had a different theme, today's theme is self-evident: "the day of reckoning."

With Americans selecting their president today, this city is busy preparing for what Al Gore '69 hopes will be a victory extravaganza. Ground zero is the War Memorial Plaza at the foot of the state capitol.

The presidential race remains the closest in a generation, and the enthusiasm--and nervous energy--of Gore aides are palpable. "We're excited for the home stretch of this campaign," Gore spokesperson Doug Hattaway said. "Momentum is going our way."

Aides pointed to higher-than-usual turnout for Democratic absentee ballots in Iowa and a large number of early returns in Washington State's first-ever mail-in balloting, much of which is coming from Democratic strongholds.

Nonetheless, the frenetic pace of the finals days, combined with the unpredictability of the electorate have stressed campaign.

"I'm very tired and very optimistic," senior advisor Bob Shrum said. "We're going to win."

Gore himself, according to Shrum, is hardly having doubts either.

He says the candidate has prepared only one address for tomorrow--a victory speech.