Deen Mohammad, President Karzai’s campaign chief, told several media outlets that Mr Karzai had secured the outright majority needed to avoid a run-off in early October with Dr Abdullah, his closest rival. Across town, Karzai’s campaign team said the president had won more than 50 percent of the vote, a result that would negate the need for a two-man runoff.Claims of early victory by Karzai and Abdullah were an attempt to win the expectations game, and officials with the country’s Independent Election Commission said it was too early for any campaign to claim itself the winner.