Lugar told CNN’s “Starting Point” on Tuesday that he believes he will emerge as the winner after polls close, but he pushed for voters outside his party to cast ballots on his behalf in the Republican primary.

“I believe in fact we’re going to win the campaign. As a matter of fact, we’ve invited everybody in the state of Indiana who is a registered voter to vote for me today,” he said.

Lugar said later in the interview he wanted to “emphasize” he was inviting every single voter in Indiana to support his candidacy, no matter their party.

“Those of us who are Republicans have to make certain that we enlarge our party, that we have persons who may have been independent in the past who are going to be independent Republicans or independents generally who are going to favor our party. Because our party, at least in Indiana, is only about 35 percent of the electorate. In order for anybody to get majority, they’re going to have a lot of other people,” he said.

“So I’m appealing to all of the people of Indiana — I emphasize all — to ask for a Republican ballot today and to vote for me,” Lugar added.

Lugar is up against state treasurer Richard Mourdock, a tea party favorite. The 80-year-old senator, however, said he would not consider a third party bid if he loses to his challenger.

“We cannot have a third party race in Indiana unlike Alaska or various other situations,” he said. “This is it. Today is the day. And I’ve emphasized that and I’m very hopeful that people will respond.”

And the senator said he believes he will win the primary today and the general election this fall.

“I believe we’re going to be successful today and in the general election,” Lugar told CNN. “All of the polling that I’ve seen indicates that in a general election I would win — if not by landslide, by a very large amount. This leads me to believe that a majority of Hoosiers are for me now, and it’s a question of getting those folks to the polls and turnout today.”