Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris spent the final day of the US election campaign in Pennsylvania, the state that could determine the success or failure of her historic bid for the White House.

Her message to supporters was blunt: Every vote matters in the state, which has 19 Electoral College votes, the most of any of the seven swing states likely to decide the outcome.

“We need everyone in Pennsylvania to vote,” she told a boisterous afternoon crowd in Allentown. “You will make the difference in this election.”

The polls show Harris essentially tied in Pennsylvania with her Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, who held one of his final rallies in Reading, Pennsylvania, just a few miles from Harris.

In recent days, Harris has sought to further differentiate her campaign from Trump's by not mentioning his name and emphasizing optimism and community.

“The momentum is on our side, the momentum is on our side, can you feel it? “We have momentum, right?” she said in cheers.

“As our campaign has captured the ambitions, aspirations and dreams of the American people, we are optimistic and excited about what we will do together.”

Harris, 60, could make U.S. history as the first woman, first Black woman and first person of South Asian descent to reach the Oval Office. Four years ago, she broke through the same hurdles to national office by becoming President Joe Biden's running mate.

Harris' final day was all about encouraging his supporters to vote and think about the future.

“It is time for a new generation of leadership in America, and I stand ready to offer that leadership as the next president of the United States of America,” she said.

“No joke”

Harris' Allentown rally was kicked off by Grammy Award-winning musician Fat Joe, who was raised by parents of Puerto Rican and Cuban descent. He wasted no time in taking aim at the racist remarks at the recent Republican rally at New York's Madison Square Garden.

“It wasn’t a joke, ladies and gentlemen. “It wasn’t a joke, it was full of hate,” he said.

Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who was part of Trump's warm-up routine at the New York rally, sparked a firestorm of protests when he called Puerto Rico a “floating island of trash.”

Southeastern Pennsylvania is home to thousands of Latinos, including a significant Puerto Rican population. Harris and her allies have repeatedly attacked Trump over those comments.

Fat Joe reminded the Allentown rally that people can make their feelings clear when they vote.

“My Latinos, where is your pride?” He asked.

“When I talk to undecided Puerto Ricans, especially in Pennsylvania, what more do they have to do to show you who they are? When I tell you Kamala Harris is with us, she is with us.”

On Monday, Harris told his supporters: “I stand here proud of my longstanding commitment to Puerto Rico and its people and will be a president for all Americans.”

Harris also visited Scranton – Biden's birthplace.

“Are you ready for this?” She shouted to supporters there, with a large handmade “VOTE FOR FREEDOM” sign behind her and a similar “VOTE” banner at her side.

“We’re not going back”

During the final day's whirlwind, Harris repeated one of her campaign's slogans: “We're not going back.” It is intended, in part, to compare them to the Republicans who supported the U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down the nation's right to abortion.

She reiterated her promise to protect women's reproductive rights.

“We will not go back because our fight is the fight for the future, for freedom, like the fundamental freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body and not let the government tell her what to do,” Harris said.

Harris will wrap up her Pennsylvania tour with a stop in Pittsburgh and conclude her final day of campaigning with a nighttime rally in Philadelphia that will include Lady Gaga and Oprah Winfrey.