Biden cautious of victory ahead of elections

Lima, Ohio: Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden sought on Friday to temper over-confidence that Barack Obama is a sure win in Tuesday's presidential election and said he expected the poll to be very close.

Speaking to reporters at a burger restaurant in Lima, in the battleground state of Ohio, Biden said he felt "this good" at the same point in the campaigns of Democrats John Kerry in 2004 and Al Gore in 2000, who were both defeated by President George W. Bush.

"We have been here before where things look really good ... It ain't over 'til it's over," he said in rare comments to reporters travelling with him. "It is not over yet."

Polls have put Obama ahead of Republican John McCain and Biden said he was optimistic the Democratic ticket could compete "everywhere," including traditionally Republican-leaning states.

"This election is going to be a lot closer than anyone thinks it is and so it matters a lot (that the Democrats campaign everywhere)," said Biden, who will spend this weekend in the battleground states of Florida, Indiana and Ohio in the final sprint before Tuesday.

Asked whether he was concerned voters who promised to vote for Obama would change their minds once they were in the booth, Biden replied: "I am a politician who has run scared every single election. ... The only poll that counts, to use a trite phrase, is the vote. So yeah I am."

He predicted a very tight race in Florida, Pennsylvania as well as North Carolina. "Virginia feels really good but I won't count that till it happens," he said.

Fellow senator McCain has launched barbed attacks against Obama and Biden said he hoped his "friend" would change tack and turn positive in the closing days.

"I hope when it's over, win or lose, I can walk up and shake hands and say we have a lot of work to do."

Asked if he thought their relationship would still be intact after harsh words on the campaign trail, Biden replied, "I hope they are intact as I still admire him. I still like
him."