Editor John So Paul is in Washington for us.

John Tina.

Thanks very much.

Yes, the nation's capital is preparing itself for Tuesday.

Maybe that should be bracing itself, because wherever I look shops, businesses, they're all boarded up.

The fear of violence is serious.

Whoever loses this election.

Meanwhile, on the road, the candidates are out seeking to get every last vote.

The ponderous marathon that is a US election campaign is now a sprint.

Hello, Michigan.

Hello, Pennsylvania Road County multiple stops.

A world of swing states.

On the person running fastest is Donald Trump, with polls suggesting he's lagging behind.

Not that you'd know it from his confident, bullish demeanor.

She's so angry, you know why he's angry because he's losing.

That's why he's like, No, it's very agitated.

I don't think he knows he's losing.

I don't think he knows anything.

Actually, Joe Biden is also upped his pace and is now being helped in these closing stages by the former president Barack Obama, tweeting at the TV doesn't fix things.

Making stuff up doesn't make people's lives better.

You've gotta have a plan.

You've gotta do the work even off stage.

Redefining political long shot no drama.

Obama, still able to command attention on America's third president and founding father of this nation, would surely look down with delight at the millions who have already voted, suggesting that turnout is going to be way up in 2020 wherever.

Ugo.

There are long lines of people, but there's also a mood of deep apprehension.

You can tell the tension.

I mean, I think the world can even feel the tension in the U.

S.

It's like a pressure cooker.

Everybody's feeling.

To me.

It's kind of like voting for, uh, lesser of two evils.

I think it's very important that people, you know, come out and vote, but especially for this year, it's just almost like crisis is going on.

This is the great celebration of any democracy.

The moment when we, the people, decide whether our rulers get another term in office or get turfed out, it is empowering.

But there is a fear stalking America, a deep unease about what might come next in this bitterly contested presidential election.

And how is the nation's capital preparing for this celebration of democracy?

Well, everywhere you go, you see teams of workmen boarding up shops and offices.

Something similar happens in the Deep South during hurricane season with acts of God.

But on Tuesday, America seems to be bracing itself for a very different type of storm on one that's entirely man made.

If Britons were voting in this American election, then Joe Biden would win decisively, according to an opinion poll which showed that he was way more popular than Donald Trump.

But of course they're not.

But who would be best for Britain on for the special relationship?

Who wins the election on Tuesday night?

Our world affairs editor, John Simpson, reports Mr McMillan praises the partnership between his country and the United States.

It's beena partnership for decades, but never a partnership of equals on Britain has faded in importance as three years have passed.

This sculpture in new Bond Street in central London represents the way a lot of Brits think about the relationship with America best mates, essentially, Churchill and Roosevelt, sitting side by side planning the Second World War.

But the Americans don't necessarily see it that way at all.

What on now We're onlookers at a Nall Ec shin, which will affect us immensely.

Trump favors.

Brexit will offer us a trade deal on America's terms.

Biden dislikes Brexit and has said that Boris Johnson is a Donald Trump clone.

Kim Dara, as Britain's ambassador to Washington, criticized Trump and had to resign.

If it's Donald Trump second term, I think we can get a quick free trade deal.

He would prioritize that.

And if Joe Biden wins post Brexit Britain no longer sitting around that you table can no longer be a spokesman for influencer for US views on what the U does.

That used to be an important part of the relationship in the Biden camp.

There's still a lot of hostility towards Boris Johnson personally.

His past attacks on Biden's friend and close ally, President Obama, haven't Bean for gotten Biden himself.

Isn't it all anti British?

But he is strongly against a no deal.

Brexit.

I reported on Barack Obama's victory as the first black president in 2000 and eight now, after the killing of George Floyd on Black lives matter Race is an issue again, Biden's biggest decision, with his choice for vice president, Kamala Harris of African and Asian descent, she would be hugely influential.

If Biden winds, especially to people here, have being moved by these campaigns.

She will be the second most powerful person on the planet, and it's just I can't even say how overwhelming this is going to be.

It matters enormously because it's going to change the landscape.

The last four years under Trump have done tremendous damage to some key British interests, like NATO.

For instance, on Joe Biden will take America back into the Paris accords on climate change, another key British interest.

Still, Donald Trump has set a new standard for America abroad.

Biden would have to match Trump's tough approach.

Biden has really made noises actually about protecting American industry from Chinese dumping and so on.

So don't expect Biden to be softer than Trump.

It is, quite simply, the most important election the world has seen in decades in Britain.

It will affect the lives of every one of us.

John Simpson, BBC news, Andi In that election, it looks that turnout is going to be way higher than four years ago on just the word about the polls.

We've had the final polls in the key swing states, which are fascinating.

They show Joe Biden ahead in a low key places, but not by such a margin that he can take anything for granted.

On Donald Trump is not so far behind that he would think all is lost.

Tuesday is going to be a nail biter, John.

Thank you very much, John.

So Paul in Washington.