Former president Barack Obama made a surprise appearance in Northern Virginia Monday to rally supporters for U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine and state Sen. Jennifer Wexton on the eve of Election Day, part of stops to help Democrats win control of at least the House.

Carrying a box of doughnuts, Obama startled the crowd of about 60 mostly young campaign staffers and volunteers inside a Wexton field office in Fairfax County. He cast Tuesday’s election as a referendum on the country’s future.

And he attacked President Trump for what the former president has called “fear mongering” and repeated lies from the White House.

“You vote, you might save a life; that’s pretty rare when that happens,” Obama told the crowd, referring to the potential for a Republican-controlled Congress to follow through on promises to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Democrats argue that that would hurt people with preexisting health conditions. “Most important, the character of this country is on the ballot,” Obama said, his voice hoarse from multiple campaign stops. “The politics we expect is on the ballot. How we conduct ourselves in public life is on the ballot.”

The popular former president’s appearance was mainly meant to boost Wexton in her race against Rep. Barbara Comstock (R) in the 10th Congressional District that stretches from McLean to the West Virginia border. Wexton (D) held an 11-point lead over Comstock in a Washington Post-Schar School poll conducted late last month. But Comstock — a tenacious campaigner with deep roots in the district after two terms — has outraised the Democrat $5.8 million to $5.4 million.

In the Senate race, Kaine is ahead of Republican challenger Corey A. Stewart by nearly 20 points in most polls while outraising him by a nearly 10-1 margin, with $22.3 million.