WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sen. Sherrod Brown spent the last day of his reelection bid campaigning with former President Bill Clinton in Cleveland. The decision to bring in Clinton’s Democratic star power was part of an effort to boost turnout among the Democratic voter base—and also a last-minute change of course for Brown, who has largely distanced himself from the national Democratic Party this election cycle.

Clinton said the Senate race was among the most consequential in decades.

“I think it’s so fitting that I get to finish here. This is my last political event,” he said. “And I came here for Sherrod Brown because I think it is profoundly important that he win this race.”

Clinton also painted the Senate race as an extension of the presidential race, and a choice between inclusivity versus tribalism.

“Our differences matter, but our common humanity is more important,” he said.

Clinton was joined by a number of Ohio Democratic officials, including Reps. Joyce Beatty and Shontel Brown.

Locked in a tough reelection in a state that has shifted increasingly Republican in the last decade, Brown has distanced himself from the White House and Democratic Party this year. He called for President Joe Biden to drop out of the race, skipped the Democratic National Convention in August and did not campaign at all with Vice President Kamala Harris.

Clinton, however, won Ohio twice in his two national campaigns in 1992 and 1996. His popularity there could help motivate more Democrats to turn out to vote.

The Brown campaign needs as much Democratic turnout as possible with polls showing a virtual tie in the race. Brown had held a comfortable lead in the spring, but saw his numbers erode amid $249 million in ads that Republican groups bought to boost Brown’s Republican opponent, Bernie Moreno.

“When you stand up to billionaires, when you stand up to special interests, they come after you. We knew that would happen. That’s why they poured millions into this race,” Brown said at the rally.

Visiting a restaurant later in the day, Brown reiterated that the polls were close because he stood up for special interests, adding that he thought the negative advertising would not work.

“No, they’re clearly not going to be successful. We’re ahead and we’re going to stay ahead,” he said. “They have the billionaires, and we have people like this. We have people all over the state.”

Brown offered a closing message:

“Politics is not left or right. It’s whose side you’re on. Clearly I fight for the dignity of work. Bernie Moreno, a car dealer stiffed his employees out of $400,000, according to a court of law. He had to pay it back. I have fought for women having the right women making their own health decisions, not politicians. Bernie Moreno wants a national abortion ban, no exceptions, because he thinks he knows better. He looks out for himself and his rich friends in. The public. will see that contrast.”