Harris appears on “SNL” as the mirror image of Maya Rudolph in the final episode before Election Day

NEW YORK (AP) — Kamala Harris made a surprise appearance on “Saturday Night Live” in the final days before the presidential election, playing herself as a mirror image double of Maya Rudolph's version of herself in the show's cold opening.

The first lines the contestant spoke as she sat opposite Rudolph in identical clothing were drowned out by the audience's cheers.

“It's good to see you, Kamala,” Harris said to Rudolph with a wide grin that she maintained throughout the sketch. “And I’m just here to remind you that you get that.”

At the same time, the two said supporters “must keep Kamala and move on,” declared that they shared each other's “faith in the promise of America,” and delivered the signature “Live from New York, it's Saturday night!”

Harris made a surprise trip to New York ahead of Tuesday's election, taking a brief break from the battleground states where she has been campaigning. By appearing on NBC's sketch comedy show, the Democratic candidate hoped to attract attention and appeal to a national audience.

REGARD: Harris speaks at rallies in Atlanta and Charlotte the final weekend before Election Day

Harris had left Charlotte, North Carolina, and was scheduled to fly to Detroit, but once she was in the air, aides said she would land somewhere else. The appearance was only confirmed by Harris' team shortly before the live broadcast began.

The vice president arrived at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Manhattan, where “SNL” was taping, just after 8 p.m., enough time for a quick rehearsal before the show aired live at 11:30 p.m. It was the last “SNL” episode before Election Day.

She left immediately after the opening segment, telling reporters, “It was fun!” as she boarded her plane to Michigan.

Host John Mulaney and musical guest Chappell Roan steered the show away from politics. Nobody addressed the election.

Some expected Roan, the 26-year-old singer who has become a huge star in recent months, to make a political statement in her first appearance on the show. She had previously sharply criticized the Democratic Party and declined to support Harris in her campaign against Republican Donald Trump, even though Roan had said several times that she planned to vote for her.

Roan sang her hit “Pink Pony Club” on an all-pink set bathed in pink lights and made no comments.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., also made a surprise appearance in a game show sketch in which the gag was that no one remembered him even though he was Hillary Clinton's vice president in 2016.

“It's been less than eight years. “What is my name?” he said as the participants stood in silence and amazement.

Rudolph first played Harris on the series in 2019 and has reprized her role this season, giving an accurate impression of the vice president and including calling herself “Momala” — a nod to the affectionate nickname given to Harris' stepchildren gave her.

Andy Samberg, a former cast member, reappeared as Harris' husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff. Standup comedian Jim Gaffigan played Harris' running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Dana Carvey, best known in the series for her role as President George HW Bush in the late 1980s, stood in for President Joe Biden.

Rudolph's performance was highly praised by critics and comedians, including Harris himself.

“Maya Rudolph — I mean, she’s so good,” Harris said on ABC’s “The View” last month. “She had the whole thing, the suit, the jewelry, everything!”

Jason Miller, a senior adviser to Trump, expressed surprise that Harris would appear on “SNL” given what Miller described as an unflattering portrayal on the show. Asked whether Trump had been invited to appear, Miller said: “I don’t know. Probably not.”

Still, politicians have a long history on “SNL,” including Trump, who hosted the show in 2015. But appearing so close to Election Day is unusual.

READ MORE: Trump's 'SNL' Appearance Gains Viewers; Critics call it a “dud”

Clinton took part in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary when she appeared alongside Amy Poehler, who played her on the show and was known for displaying a trademark exaggerated cackle. The real Clinton asked herself during her appearance: “Am I really laughing like that?”

Harris repeated the line in response to Rudolph's portrayal of her laughing in Saturday's episode.

Clinton returned in 2016 when she ran against Trump, who won that election.

The first sitting president to appear on “SNL” was Republican Gerald Ford, who did so less than a year after the show debuted. Ford appeared on an April 1976 episode hosted by his publicist Ron Nessen and declared, “Live from New York, it's Saturday night.”

Then-Illinois Senator Barack Obama appeared alongside Poehler in 2007, portraying Clinton. Republican Bob Dole was on the show in November 1996 – just 11 days after he lost that year's election to Bill Clinton. Dole comforted Norm Macdonald, who played the Kansas senator.

Then there was Tina Fey's impression of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in 2008 – and in particular her joke: “I can see Russia from my house.” It was so good that Fey won an Emmy and Palin herself in October, in appeared on the show in the weeks leading up to the election.

Long, Miller and Weissert reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Jill Colvin in New York and Andrew Dalton in Los Angeles contributed to this report.