Obama congratulates Romney on ‘spirited campaign’

The US President Barack Obama on Tuesday extended congratulations to rival Mitt Romney “on a spirited campaign” but said he is “confident we’ve got the votes to win”.

I … want to say to Governor Romney congratulations on a spirited campaign. I know that his supporters are just as engaged and just as enthusiastic and working just as hard today,” Mr Obama said as volunteers made phone calls encouraging supporters to get to the polls.

“We feel confident we’ve got the votes to win, but it’s going to depend ultimately on whether those votes turn out. And so I would encourage everybody on all sides just to make sure that you exercise this precious right that we have that people fought so hard for us to have.”

He spoke to reporters briefly after making calls to Wisconsin campaign volunteers from a campaign office near his Chicago home.

He was greeted by thunderous applause by about two dozen volunteers, many with tears streaming down their faces.

Mr Obama and his wife Michelle made calls to volunteers from the campaign office to thank them for working for his re-election.

“I expect that we’ll have a good night, but no matter what happens, I just want to say how much I appreciate everybody who supported me, everybody who’s worked so hard on my behalf.”

Opinion polls show Misters Obama and Romney in a virtual dead heat, although the Democratic incumbent has a slight advantage in several vital swing states that could give him the 270 electoral votes needed to win the state-by-state contest.