Referendum 65 is running into trouble. Not enough signatures have been gathered with only one day to go.

Eyman, the referendum's sponsor, says he's been called many evil things, so he may as well look the part. So he dressed as Darth Vader, delivering the news he doesn't yet have the 112,000+ signatures needed to put Referendum 65, which asks voters whether they want to keep the anti-discrimination law passed this year by the Legislature, on the November ballot.

When asked, "is there a chance you might not make it?" Eyman responded, "at the end of the day we're counting on our supporters to be able to get the signatures. We're working real hard."

Eyman, who has previously dressed up as a gorilla and a prison inmate to tout his various initiative efforts, had been expected to turn in the petitions Monday, but his appearance turned out to be nothing more than a ploy for his publicity machine.

Eyman sent out an e-mail Friday saying he would be "bringing down petitions" on Monday. With a Tuesday afternoon deadline for referendum signatures to be turned in, he implied that they would be for Referendum 65.

Instead, Eyman brought boxes of signed petitions for another initiative he is sponsoring for $30 car tabs. The deadline for those signatures isn't until next month, and he wasn't turning any of the signatures in, just bringing them down, as the e-mail promised.

Eyman hopes to undo what the state Legislature did this past session in outlawing discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, housing and lending. Eyman says that gay rights leads to gay marriage.

There's nothing in the law about gay marriage, but opponents say the law is a steppingstone.

"It's very clear this has everything to do with gay marriage," Eyman said. "Many of our supporters feel strongly and I certainly do as well that the courts are looking for any opportunity, any opportunity at all to impose same-sex marriage on the people of this state."

But Governor Gregoire disagrees with that line of thinking, saying, "Well, that is misleading the public. It has nothing to do with gay marriage. It has everything to do with discrimination and I believe that Washington state's values are fundamental that we don't discriminate."

Many of Eyman's signatures were gathered at church services in what he called Referendum Sunday. But Monday, a coalition of clergy stepped forward to oppose Eyman's efforts saying energy should be focused elsewhere.

"I think it sucks the energy out of our efforts to talk about economic justice and rights issues that are so important to our times," said Rev. Vincent Warner, Bishop of the Episcopal Church.

But the concern may be for naught if the 'force' isn't with him and Eyman can't come up with the needed signatures by Tuesday evening.

Eyman promises to be back at the Secretary of State's office Tuesday night to deliver whatever signatures he has before the 5 p.m. deadline.

Meanwhile, the law takes effect on Wednesday, unless enough valid signatures are turned in, in which case it will be frozen until the election.

It would make Washington the 17th state with laws protecting gays and lesbians, and the seventh to protect transgender people.

KOMO 4's Keith Eldridge contributed to this report