McCain predicts 11th-hour victory

LORDSTOWN, Ohio, June 27 (UPI) -- Presumptive Republican nominee John McCain says he is the underdog but he expects to pull ahead in the final days of the U.S. presidential election campaign.

The Arizona senator said in Ohio the race between him and likely Democratic nominee Barack Obama likely will go down to the wire, Fox News reported.

"I'm the underdog. I'm behind," McCain said. "I've got to catch up and get ahead. And I expect to do that about 48 hours before the general election."

McCain made the comments the same day a poll indicated Obama leads him nationally and in several swing states.

He criticized Obama for refusing to meet his demands for a series of informal town hall meetings around the nation.

"I would meet him anywhere, anytime," McCain said. "I have kept days open."