(Image Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Mitt Romney said today that he "feels good" about his chances in both Mississippi and Alabama, predicting that if the polls are right, he'll end up with "a third of the delegates."

"You know, this is all about getting delegates," said Romney aboard a charter flight set to travel between St. Louis and Kansas City, where he will campaign later today. "Hope to get more delegates tonight. If the polls are right we'll pick up some delegates."

"You don't know from polls what will happen but obviously if the polls are anywhere near correct, we'll end up with, I don't know, a third of the delegates," he said, balancing a box of St. Patrick's Day cookies in his hands.  "And if that's the case, why that inches us closer to that magic number."

Recent polls show Romney in a virtual dead heat with former speaker Newt Gingrich in Alabama and Mississippi.

Romney, who will fly to New York City for fundraising events this week, was asked why he is not holding an event tonight where he will address the results this evening. Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum are holding events tonight.

"We'll have to wait until the polls close and then we'll talk about that," said Romney.

Romney's remarks came as he walked to the back of the plane to hand out frosted cookies to the press corps.

Fielding birthday wishes - Romney turned 65 on Monday - Romney said that he didn't expect to be campaigning on his birthday.

"I campaigned on my birthday," he said. "This is not what I expected when I turned 65. Only saw Ann first thing in the morning at the rally, at the restaurant with Jeff Foxworthy. We gave each other a kiss and off we went."

As for the best present he received?

"A kiss from my wife. That was the only present I got," Romney said, laughing.

Missouri holds its Republican caucus on Saturday.