"These are very serious charges that are not only untrue but scurrilous," Cannon said. "To suggest that somehow I'm profiting off this is offensive and wrong. You guys have reported my wealth has declined since I became a congressman," referring to government records that show he has lost millions of dollars since the 1996 election.

Portlock represented the Senior Coalition at the rally and derided Cannon for wanting to privatize Social Security and accepting $10,000 in campaign contributions from Pfizer, a drug company.

Former Geneva Steel worker Kelly Hansen said Cannon failed Utah's steelworkers both when he co-owned the plant and after he joined Congress.

"I know Beau will stand up for us," said Hansen, who was out of work for nine months when Geneva Steel finally closed its doors for good, then got a job working for the United Steelworkers of America. "Beau will be great for us to protect our jobs."

Cannon bristled at the broad assault, blaming Clinton administration policies for hurting Geneva Steel. He also said he helped create the more than 2,000 jobs at the company and left before it went bankrupt.

"I made it through college working as a Teamster," he said. "I was a card-carrying union member. I have differences with unions now, but I'm open about those and I work with unions and get contributions from unions."

Cannon said Pfizer is interested in donating to his campaign because he is chairman of a House committee that deals with asbestos, one of the company's major issues. He openly admitted the drug company likely appreciated his vote against restricting prescription drugs imports from Canada, which he called a complex issue.

He accused Babka, who works as a police officer in South Salt Lake and as an instructor at Salt Lake Community College, of attempting to paint a picture of class warfare between a working class and an elite.

"With all due respect," Cannon said, "I put in more hours than Beau Babka with both his jobs."

The campaigns do not have plans for major events before Tuesday's election, which Babka's Web site calls "Cannon's day of reckoning."

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E-mail: twalch@desnews.com