“Without Trump, we wouldn’t have this level of interest,” said Michael McDonald, an associate professor of political science at the University of Florida who runs the United States Elections Project. “Either you love him or you hate him — he’s driving engagement in the country.”

The president fanned the anxieties of his base as election day approached with a flurry of tweets and stump speeches warning about the dangers of a Democratic takeover and the threat posed by a migrant caravan making its way by foot from Central America to the southern border…

Trump and Republicans have the economy on their side — unemployment in October held at a 48-year low of 3.7 percent — but as Tuesday approached, Trump chose instead to focus on the caravan and raised the possibility of ending birthright citizenship, despite the fact that such a task could require a constitutional amendment. He deployed more than 5,000 troops to the border and suggested he may triple that number. His campaign team created a advertisement focused on the caravan that was so racially charged all the major TV networks have pulled it.

Trump doesn’t mind if the election becomes a referendum on his presidency. “I’m willing to accept that,” he told reporters on Monday.