U.S. presidential candidate John McCain has dismissed recent opinion polls that place him behind his Democratic opponent, Senator Barack Obama.
During an interview on NBC's Meet the PressSunday, Senator McCain - a Republican - said the race is very close. McCain added that he believes he will win the November fourth election.
Recent polls show Senator McCain trailing Senator Obama - in some cases by double digits.
Senator McCain held a rally Sunday in the midwestern state of Iowa before heading to Ohio, considered one of the most important states to win in the election.
Meanwhile, Senator Obama concluded a visit through the West with two rallies in Colorado following stops in the hotly contested states of New Mexico and Nevada.
During the rally, Obama criticized what he described as eight years of failed economic policies he said put the country on the wrong track.
The Illinois senator returned to the campaign trail Saturday after visiting his gravely ill grandmother in Hawaii. Madelyn Dunham, who raised Obama, turned 86 Sunday.
In a separate development, Obama's aides announced former President Bill Clinton will campaign with the Democratic candidate for the first time at a rally this week in Florida.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.