Biden pledges to 'run through the tape' during Election Day stop in native Pennsylvania

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A confident but cautious Joe Biden said he "feels good, but it ain’t over 'til it's over" in his bid to defeat President Trump.

The Democratic presidential nominee, spoke with volunteers Tuesday morning at a get-out-the-vote gathering in Scranton, the Pennsylvania city where he was born, told supporters that he's optimistic about winning the election, but he’s “got to run through the tape.”

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He later paid an Election Day visit to the house where he spent his childhood and was swarmed by a group of supporters and local residents.

During his first stop, the former vice president chatted outside Carpenters Local Union 445 in Scranton, with campaign volunteers who were gathering for their shifts. The 77-year-old Biden told them: “I want to thank you all. I know you’re out there canvassing.”

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event in Scranton, Pa., Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

He was joined by his grandchildren and Sen. Bob Casey Jr. of Pennsylvania, who is also a Scranton native.

“My name is Joe Biden,” the candidate told the crowd as he arrived. “I was born in Mercy Hospital in Scranton.”

He also spoke about how his great grandfather "was the first Irish Catholic elected to the state Senate in the state of Pennsylvania, and he was from Scranton."

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Biden, who was 10 when his family moved to Delaware, where his father found work, proclaimed: "It’s good to be home. ... I left here when I was going into fourth grade, but I came home almost all summers, every summer.”

Biden has remained close to Pennsylvania during his political career, and during his nearly four decades representing neighboring Delaware in the Senate, he was known as Pennsylvania’s "third senator."

Pennsylvania is one of the most crucial battleground states in this year's White House race.

In 2016, Donald Trump became the first Republican nominee to win Pennsylvania since George H.W. Bush in 1988. Trump carried the state – and its 20 electoral votes – by just seven-tenths of 1% over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, outperforming the final polls that favored Clinton.

Four years later, the Biden campaign heavily concentrated efforts on Pennsylvania. On Sunday, Biden campaigned in Philadelphia and in Pittsburgh and other parts of western Pennsylvania. After his swing through Scranton, Biden left for Philadelphia for more Election Day stops.

Biden told a healthy gathering of supporters that "as Philly goes, so goes the state of Pennsylvania ... We're going to win Pennsylvania because of you."

And he touted that turnout has been incredible.

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks to voters during a stop in Philadelphia, Pa., Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

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Trump campaigned in the Keystone State on Saturday and returned to Washington on Monday. Vice President Mike Pence also made a stop in the state on the eve of the election.

Speaking to the volunteers, Biden emphasized his populist message, pointing out that “the middle class built this country – Wall Street didn’t. And unions built the middle class.”

Afterward, Biden made a stop at his childhood home, where he was greeted by a healthy gathering of supporters and local residents. Most people were wearing masks but there was no social distancing as many pressed to get as close to the former vice president as possible.

While at his childhood home, Biden signed one of the living room walls.

"From this house to the White House with the grace of God. Joe Biden 11-3-2020," he wrote.

The former vice president also paid a visit to the home of Sen. Casey’s mother before stopping at a nearby restaurant where he greeted customers.

Biden told reporters that he had not talked with the president so far today.

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He also greeted supporters at a local baseball field and church.

While the former vice president was making his last minute stops in Pennsylvania, campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillion emphasized the "enthusiasm in early voting," which she said is "continuing today in voting so far."

Roughly 100 million Americans cast ballots ahead of Election Day, which is nearly three-quarters of all votes cast in the 2016 election.

Dillion told reporters that due to the early vote, Biden was "leading by 8-points coming into Election Day."

She emphasized "that allows us to continue to have these multiple paths to victory" to the 270 electoral votes needed to capture the White House.

Biden campaign general counsel Bob Bauer highlighted that "by and large voting is proceeding smoothly" so far on Election Day and added that he's seen "minimal issues and disruptions."

Bauer added that "the rejection rates of ballots are falling well below what many would be the case just a few months ago."

Fox News' Allie Raffa contribued to this report.