Every effective message needs a vehicle. For Ohio Republicans, a big red bus that rolled into Hanoverton on Thursday was just that.

With just five days until Election Day, the bus hosted a who's who of local, state and national GOP officials to get their base fired up.

"You got a lot of great candidates here and we gotta make sure we support them all," said State Senator Mike Rulli. "This is a Republican time. You've always been told this is the most important election of your lifetime. This time it really is."

Recent polling from NBC News echoes that.
A majority of registered voters say this election is "more important" than past midterms.

Perhaps not part of past midterms - the degree of polarization. 80 percent of Democrats and Republicans believe the other side poses a threat to America. Two-thirds of both Democrat and Republican voters say a candidate's moral failings don't matter.

"This is our time in history. Things are coming together for us," said Governor Mike DeWine.

But on this day, the "Fighting and Winning for Ohio" bus tour kept its eye on the prize.

"This race for the United States Senate may well determine which party controls the United States Senate. That's what's at stake," said DeWine.

"Don't miss out on the chance because putting conservatives in office makes a positive difference for our future," added Secretary of State Frank LaRose.

A message that, with the help of a big red bus, landed with lots of Valley voters.