The Georgia legislature earlier this year moved up the primary by a week to avoid running up against the opening of the Olympics on July 19. But now some observers are speculating that voters who are away this weekend for the Fourth of July may not have politics on their minds when they return.

Particularly in the Republican U.S. Senate race, candidates have resorted to different tactics to get the ``grassroots'' support that will show up no matter what.

For Clint Day, that support is coming from odd corners, such as the garden clubs and Amway distributors. Mr. Day's mother, Deen Day Smith, is in line to become the national president of the Garden Clubs of America and the campaign has already sewn up the support of the 28 groups in the state, said campaign consultant Pat Gartland. He is also counting on an endorsement by Amway officials and a pledge to turn their people out, said campaign spokesman Jeffrey Skelton.

And on Sunday, there are the Baptist churches, where Mr. Day is a deacon. The campaign targeted the largest Baptist churches and visited one each Sunday, using family connections to get before the congregation, Mr. Skelton said.

For Republican rival Guy Millner, the road to Washington is best traveled by bus. On Saturday he concluded an 87-county bus tour. Not to be outdone, fellow Republican hopeful Johnny Isakson is traveling by pickup truck convoy, riding in a red 1989 Chevy Silverado he bought off his dad.

Democrats particularly may have a hard time finding a reason to go out and vote, Dr. Bullock said. None of the statewide Democratic offices have serious primary challenges and there are fewer and fewer Democratic primary fights.

Locally, turnout in Richmond County may be hurt by the lack of local contested races, said Lynn Bailey, executive director of the Board of Elections. Democrats locally have two races of importance:

- Long-time Speaker Pro Tempore Jack Connell of Augusta faces a challenge from State Court Solicitor Robert W. ``Bo'' Hunter III in House District 115. In a fairly congenial race, Mr. Connell is asking voters to ``keep the gavel in Augusta,'' meaning his powerful position as the No. 2 leader in the House which he says has helped him bring important projects to the Garden City. Mr. Hunter says his experience as a prosecutor would help him change state laws to attack crime and as a new face would be more aggressive for the city and less concerned about ``the status quo in Atlanta.''

- In the race to replace Mr. Hunter as solicitor, former Assistant Solicitor Sheryl Jolly and former Assistant District Attorney Joe Neal Jr. square off in a hotly contested primary. They have spent more than $30,000 so far competing for the $32,000-a-year part-time job. The winner will face Republican Benjamin Jackson in November.

In Columbia County, turnout could range from 25-35 percent but several contested Republican races could boost that turnout, said Board of Elections executive director Rudy Olson.

In County Commission races, incumbent Diane Ford faces Harold Mays to keep her District 5 seat. Incumbent David Titus also faces challenger Lee Brooks for his District 3 seat.

With the retirement of Jake Pollard, three Columbia County Republicans are vying for his Senate District 24 seat - State Rep. Joey Brush, Dick Manion and Charles Allen. The winner faces Democrat Ted Lane in November.

Three Republicans are competing to fill Mr. Brush's House District 112 seat - Bill Jackson, Tom Simpson and Lee Anderson.

Superior Court Judge Bettianne Hart will have to defeat three challengers to keep her seat against former District Attorney Michael Eubanks and Augusta attorneys Neal Dickert and Larry I. Smith.