Bush confident of carrying Ohio

President George W. Bush made a final campaign stop in the battleground state of Ohio yesterday in a last bid to win precious votes after casting his own ballot with wife Laura near their Texas ranch.

"I am confident we will carry Ohio, I am confident we will carry the nation," he said during a visit to the Ohio headquarters of his campaign in Columbus where he worked the phones along with other volunteers.

"This is President Bush calling," he said in a telephone call to one surprised voter, adding, "I promise you it's me."

After thanking the person on the phone for Election Day support, Mr Bush turned to reporters and smiled, saying: "One to nothing."

No Republican has won the White House without winning Ohio, and the state is in play this year due to job losses of 230,000 since Mr Bush took office.

With polls showing the race deadlocked and voters turning out in record numbers, Mr Bush said he hoped the US would avoid the same kind of bitter recount battle that led to his narrow victory in 2000. "I think it's very important that it end tonight. The world watches our great democracy function, and there would be nothing better for our system for the election to be conclusively over tonight so that - I think it's going to be me - so I can go on and lead this country," said Mr Bush after voting in Crawford, Texas.

Mr Bush had a short night of sleep after a marathon day of campaigning that took him through five swing states and to a final rally on Monday night in Dallas. He will watch election results at the White House.

Joined by their twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna, the Bushes pulled up at the Crawford Fire Department and Ambulance building, security personnel all around and even standing on the roof, and entered the fire station to cast their votes.

"There is such a wonderful feeling to vote," Mr Bush told reporters afterward. "This election is in the hands of the people, and I feel very comfortable about that. People know where I stand. I've enjoyed this campaign."