For the candidates running for the 69th District seat in the state House of Representatives, time is running out.

They have less than two weeks until the primary, when their numbers will be whittled down to one Republican and one Democrat to battle it out on Nov. 7.

All the work they've done amounts to one night when voters will decide whether they want John Knowles or John Currie, both Republicans, and decide between Democrats Mark Meadows, Mary Lindemann and Jeffrey Abood.

So for the next two weeks, they work and then wait. Here's a brief description of what each candidate is doing to try to earn your vote.

John Knowles

For Knowles, a 2006 graduate of the MSU College of Law, it's all about meeting people.

In the months leading up to the primary, he said everyone in the district has either been touched by him or one of his volunteers.

He's mailed out pamphlets and put about 200 signs with his name on lawns in East Lansing.

"In the final two weeks we're reaching out to neighborhoods where we have a lot of supporters and tell them we really appreciate their support," Knowles said.

He is continuing to go into neighborhoods, meet people and get his message out.

He also plans on holding an event for all of the volunteers who have spent time campaigning for him.

"More than anything, it's saying thanks for all of the people that supported us," Knowles said.

Mary Lindemann

Lindemann is up every day at 3 a.m.

With so little time remaining before the primary, the former social worker and teacher gets up early to check e-mails and make appointments.

She and her husband, Pat, and a group of volunteers will spend the next two weeks knocking on doors, mailing out leaflets and meeting people.

"The campaign is mostly grassroots," Lindemann said. "We're doing everything textbook style."

The volunteers meet at her house and sometimes at restaurants to discuss the campaign and make sure the message she wants to send to voters is consistent.

"Going door-to-door is the most successful way to talk to people, and the candidate is the most effective person to knock on people's doors and talk to them," Lindemann said.

She said her parents will also come and assist the campaign.

Although she's busy, Lindemann said running for the House has been a great experience.

"I found it to be very fulfilling," Lindemann said.

Mark Meadows

Meadows is a busy man.

Other than running for the House, he also is juggling responsibilities as a member of the East Lansing City Council and at his job as a lawyer.

"I've pretty much put everything else aside to work on this campaign," Meadows said.

A lighter summer schedule for the City Council has helped him spend time on his campaign.

He's now going back through neighborhoods and speaking with more people about the issues in the election.

"The closer we get to the election, the more aware people are about who they're going to vote for," Meadows said.

The top issues people seem to care most about are jobs, the economy and education, he said.

Working on listening to people and running the campaign is tiring, and Meadows said there's never enough time to get everything completed.

He's looking forward to moving on to the general election.

"You always wish you had another 24 hours to get stuff done," Meadows said.

John Currie

Currie said he has poured time, energy and money into a race he initially thought wouldn't contain a Republican primary.

He's gone out to meet people and plans on sending more leaflets before the primary.

He's also planning an event the weekend before the primary called the Currie Car Rally, so people can find out who he is and what he believes in.

"We'll have supporters strategically located around the community," Currie said.

Joining him in his campaign has been his wife, who acts as his treasurer, and a mixture of family and friends.

In the weeks leading up to the primary he said he's been preparing for events and interviews.

Despite the work, the first-time political candidate said he's having a good time.

"I've enjoyed it, but it's been very grueling," Currie said. "I'll be glad when Aug. 8 gets here."

Jeffrey Abood

Besides running a campaign and trying to meet people, Abood also is taking classes at Cooley Law School, where he's a student.

His finals are two days after the primary, which means he has a busy couple of weeks ahead of him.

Despite the stress, he's looking forward to the primary, he said.

"People are very excited and ready for change and for the primary to narrow it down to the candidates they want," Abood said.

"I'm comfortable in the amount of work we've done and the message we've gotten across."

His day starts at about 7 a.m., when he gets up and reads newspapers before working on the campaign. He gets help from more than 200 cousins and other members of his family.

They host meet-and-greets for people to find out more about him.

His parents, who split time between Michigan and Missouri, have been actively involved.

"Everybody's excited," he said.