A packed final rally for Harris in Philadelphia included music by Ricky Martin and Lady Gaga and a speech by Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff. TV megastar Oprah Winfrey also spoke, introducing Harris to an ecstatic crowd.

The crowd, numbering in the tens of thousands, joined in the chant from the “Rocky Steps” leading up to the Art Museum, the city landmark made famous by the Sylvester Stallone boxing movie. People had waited about four hours for the vice president.

Harris described the famous steps as a tribute to those who “start as underdogs” and climb to victory. “The race isn’t over yet,” she said. “And we have to finish strong. And this could be one of the closest races in history. Every vote counts.”

“You will decide the outcome of this election, Pennsylvania.”

Closing out his campaign, Trump suggested Harris try a boxing match against Mike Tyson, the former heavyweight champion and convicted rapist. “Put Mike in the ring with Kamala. It will be interesting,” he said.

The shadow of the January 6, 2021 riot on Capitol Hill hung over the entire campaign.

Trump and his supporters, including Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, have loudly and repeatedly argued that voting irregularities undermined the election – as if setting the stage for another attempted revolt against the officially declared result.

Security forces are preparing for election day violence. The National Guard unit in Washington, DC, will have reinforcements ready for the inauguration of the incoming president in January, officials said Monday. Military guards are also on standby in Washington state, Oregon and Nevada.