CLEVELAND • In his final pitch to voters, President Donald Trump implored Republicans on Monday to help preserve “fragile” GOP victories that could be erased by Democrats as he closes out a midterm campaign that has been defined by his racially charged rhetoric, hard-line immigration moves and scattershot policy proposals.

Trump’s shadow has hung over the midterm elections that will determine the future of his presidency, with the monthslong fight serving as a testing ground for his nationalist appeals and the strength of the coalition that powered him to the White House two years ago. Acknowledging the stakes in the closing days of campaigning, Trump stressed to voters that everything is on the line when they go to the polls.

“It’s all fragile. Everything I told you about, it can be undone and changed by the Democrats if they get in,” Trump told supporters on a telephone “town hall” organized by his re-election campaign. “You see how they’ve behaved. You see what’s happening with them. They’ve really become radicalized.”

Trump spent the final day on the trail Monday in Ohio, the perennial presidential battleground, with further stops planned in Indiana and Missouri.

With hours to go until polls closed, he harshened his rhetoric on illegal immigration and lobbed attacks at Democrats.

In a Monday tweet, he warned that law enforcement was “strongly notified to watch closely for any ILLEGAL VOTING which may take place in Tuesday’s Election (or Early Voting).” Trump has falsely claimed that millions of illegal votes were cast in 2016, depriving him of a victory in the popular vote, and he has stoked concerns, without providing evidence, of rampant fraudulent voting.

At the same time, he has sought to distance himself from any potential blame if Republicans lose control of the House.

Whatever the outcome, Trump made clear he knew he was on the line.

“In a sense, I am on the ticket,” he told a raucous crowd in Cleveland.

He warned earlier on the telephone town hall to get out and vote because “the press is very much considering it a referendum on me and us as a movement.”

Republicans are increasingly confident they will retain control of the Senate, but they face Democratic headwinds in the House.

In an interview last month, Trump said he would not accept blame for a GOP defeat at the polls.

Trump has maintained a busy campaign schedule in the final stretch of the race, with 11 rallies over six days.

In the closing days Trump has brought out special guests to join him on the campaign trail. Country singer Lee Greenwood performed Trump favorite “God Bless the U.S.A.” in Chattanooga, Tenn., and was expected to appear Monday with the president in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Fox News personality Sean Hannity and conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh were also slated to be “special guests” at the final rally, according to Trump’s campaign.

President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign rally at the IX Center, in Cleveland, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Carolyn Kaster