President Barack Obama speaks to media as he visits a campaign office in Chicago, Ill., on Election Day, on Nov. 6, 2012. (credit: EWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

CHICAGO (AP) — Expressing confidence but leaving nothing to chance, including having a concession speech ready, President Barack Obama indulged his superstitions by engaging in a traditional Election Day basketball game with friends as the race that will determine his political future was finally in the hands of voters.

Obama played on the hard court — and won — after he gave a final exhortation to his volunteers to get out the vote, voiced optimism about his chances and congratulated rival Mitt Romney on a “spirited campaign.”

“I expect that we’ll have a good night,” he said.

Obama gave the campaign one last push Tuesday morning by visiting a campaign office near his South Side Chicago home.

Thunderous applause from about two dozen volunteers, many with tears streaming down their faces, greeted Obama. Removing his suit coat, he sat down to make some calls to volunteers in neighboring Wisconsin. “Let’s get busy,” he said.

“Hopefully we’ll have a good day,” he said on one call. “Keep working hard all the way through.”

Speaking to reporters afterward, Obama said: “We feel confident we’ve got the votes to win but it’s going to depend ultimately on whether these votes turn out.”

He said he knows Romney’s supporters are “just as engaged, just as enthusiastic” as his own and congratulated the former Massachusetts governor “for a hard-fought race.”

Obama said late Tuesday in an interview with Denver television station KDVR that he had prepared both a victory speech and a concession speech for election night.

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