SPRINGFIELD - The number of candidates vying for the presidency has shrunk, but Illinois' presidential ballot has not. When voters in the Land of Lincoln head to the polls Tuesday, Republicans still will see nine candidates on the ballot, even though just four are still actively pursuing the job.

Democratic voters will have a choice of seven candidates, even though just two - Sens. Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois - remain in the hunt for the nomination.

As the primary election approaches, the candidates left standing are battling to convince supporters from others camps to jump on their bandwagons.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani's departure Wednesday sparked the latest round of calls by supporters of Republicans Sen. John McCain of Arizona and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

Giuliani endorsed McCain, but that hasn't stopped Romney from trying to snatch up some fence-sitters.

Romney's Illinois coordinator Dan Rutherford, a state senator from Chenoa, said he has been talking with Giuliani backers about them switching their allegiance heading into Tuesday's election.

"I've reaching out personally to some of them," said Rutherford.

Similarly, former supporters of former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., are being wooed by the Obama and Clinton camps as the campaign winds down.

Obama will bring his campaign back to the Midwest this weekend with an event in St. Louis Saturday night. He'll be in Chicago on Sunday and Tuesday, with a trip to Connecticut and Massachusetts in between.

Romney had been planning a Saturday stop in Chicago, but moved that to Sunday to accommodate his attendance at the funeral of the late Mormon church President Gordon B. Hinckley in Utah.

McCain, meanwhile, is set to attend an event Friday in Villa Park.

Giuliani visit canceled

Giuliani canceled a planned swing through Central Illinois on Saturday. Prior to dropping from the race, he'd been the only presidential candidate planning to stop in downstate Illinois before the primary.

Instead of Giuliani, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has been enlisted to appear at the events in McCain's place. The stops include Bloomington, Springfield and East Peoria.

Connie Nord, an organizer of the Bloomington Giuliani event said people who contributed money in anticipation of his visit may be able to have their checks returned.

State Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, who is backing McCain, said Pawlenty's visit in Bloomington will be from 3 to 5 p.m. at DoubleTree Hotel and Conference Center, Veterans Parkway and Brickyard Drive.