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Former President Clinton headlined a fundraiser Friday for the Democratic candidate in the Massachusetts Senate race to fill the late Ted Kennedy鈥檚 seat. Just before he took the stage, the White House confirmed that President Obama would make a similar campaign stop here Sunday.

Why is Attorney General Martha Coakley getting such attention from the most prominent members of the Democratic Party?

It鈥檚 a tight race between Ms. Coakley and her Republican challenger, state Sen. Scott Brown: A shows Coakley has fallen behind Mr. Brown by four percentage points. Much of Mr. Obama鈥檚 agenda depends on Democrats鈥� filibuster-proof 60-vote majority in the Senate.

鈥淭his is not about healthcare. Any bill except the federal budget can be filibustered,鈥� Mr. Clinton proclaimed, after touting Coakley鈥檚 positions for financial and healthcare reform.

Massachusetts鈥� Senate race has received national attention because Coakley has promised to vote for the healthcare reform bill while Brown has promised to vote against it. That means the fate of the bill effectively rests with Massachusetts voters Tuesday.

Focus on jobs and the economy

But if there was a new element to Friday鈥檚 rally, it was to amp up the focus of the race on jobs and the economy. In the same Suffolk University poll that had Coakley trailing Brown, 44 percent of voters said that the economy and jobs are the most important issues for them in this race.

Across-the-board tax cuts won鈥檛 create new jobs, Coakley and Clinton said, repeatedly trying to use Brown鈥檚 pledge to cut taxes to tie him to the policies of former President George W. Bush.

The national Democratic Party has not only lent Coakley its star politicians, but it鈥檚 also pouring money into television ads for the campaign. Between state and federal organizations, the Democratic Party will spend the maximum $880,000 allowed in coordination with Coakley鈥檚 campaign, state party chairman John Walsh told The Boston Globe Wednesday.

While former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani campaigned for Brown in Massachusetts Friday, the national Republican Party hasn't offered up the same kinds of funds. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has not purchased television ads for Brown.

But Brown is not hurting for money. His campaign announced that it brought in $1.3 million in a 24-hour period after the candidates鈥� final debate Monday. The Daily Caller, a new online publication launched by conservative Tucker Carlson, that Brown has raised $1 million dollars each day this week.

The momentum for Brown seems to be internally generated and self-sustained, says Charles Stewart, a political scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge.

Can Clinton and Obama change the game?

鈥淕iven that, how much of a game-changer can Obama or Clinton be? It will remind a few people who have been on the fence about why they supported the Democrats in 2008,鈥� says Professor Stewart. 鈥淏ut if there鈥檚 going to be a groundswell to Brown, I鈥檓 not sure there鈥檚 much these visits can do to counter that.鈥�

David Paleologos, a pollster at Suffolk University in Boston who conducted Thursday鈥檚 poll, agrees.

鈥淚f there was a high number of undecided voters, I鈥檇 be looking to components like endorsements,鈥� says Mr. Paleologos. 鈥淏ut polls indicates that only 1 percent of voters remain undecided.鈥�

Sen. John Kerry, who was also attended the rally along with other members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation, argued that Democrats need more time to accomplish the change they鈥檝e promised, including healthcare, energy, and financial reform.

鈥淵ou just can鈥檛 get where we need to go so quickly,鈥� Senator Kerry said.

It was a message that resonated with educator Mary Garrity, a Democrat who was in the crowd.

鈥淲hat frustrates me is Brown鈥檚 plan to paralyze the government with this 鈥榥o鈥� vote,鈥� Ms. Garrity said. 鈥淚t鈥檒l have huge consequences in the midterm elections if no one can accomplish anything.鈥�

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