Harris' trip to Michigan takes a detour because of his appearance on "Saturday Night Live."

Aamer Madhani, Colleen Long, Zeke Miller and Will Weissert
| Associated Press

new York — Vice President Kamala Harris made a surprise appearance on “Saturday Night Live” in the final days before the election, playing herself as a mirror image double of Maya Rudolph’s version of herself.

The first lines that the candidate spoke as she sat opposite Rudolph were lost in the cheers of the audience.

“It's good to see you, Kamala,” Harris said to Rudolph, “and I'm just here to remind you that you get that.”

At the same time, the two said that 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 City as the election loomed, briefly distancing herself from the battleground states where she had been heavily promoting the iconic sketch comedy show that she hoped would generate buzz and a national audience to address.

Harris arrived in New York on Air Force Two after an early evening campaign stop Saturday in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was supposed to fly to Detroit, but once she was in the air, aides said she would make an unscheduled stop and the plane landed at LaGuardia Airport.

Harris 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 airs live at 11:30 p.m. It's the last SNL episode before Election Day on Tuesday.

The visit was not announced in advance and an official familiar with Harris' planning did not officially confirm it to reporters traveling with the vice president until shortly before the live broadcast began. The official insisted on anonymity to discuss plans before they were made public.

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 her by her stepchildren.

Rudolph opened the show’s season premiere by saying, “Good, good, good. Look who fell out of that coconut tree.” And she jokes about keeping President Joe Biden in check.

In Saturday's episode, Harris' husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, was once again played by former cast member Andy Samberg and Dana Carvey appeared as Biden.

Rudolph's performance has received critical and comedic acclaim – including from 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!”

Harris added that she was impressed by Rudolph's “mannerisms.”

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

Still, politicians have a long history on SNL, including Trump, who hosted the show in 2015 — although it's unusual to appear so close to Election Day.

Hillary Clinton was running in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary when she appeared alongside Amy Poehler, who she played 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 in a race that she ultimately lost.

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

Then-Illinois Sen. Barack Obama appeared alongside Poehler, portraying Clinton, in 2007, and 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 2008 impression of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin – and in particular her joke: “I can see Russia from my house.” It was so good that Fey ended up winning an Emmy and Palin herself in October, appeared on the show in the weeks leading up to the election.

Harris' trip to Michigan takes a detour because of his appearance on “Saturday Night Live.”

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