Poll: McCain loses lead in rural American voters

U.S. Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain (R-AZ) (L) and his wife Cindy wave to supporters at a campaign stop at All Star Building Materials in Ormond Beach, Florida October 23, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

"That is really bad news for John McCain," said Seth McKee, a political scientist at the University of South Florida, to the National Public Radio on the survey. "If the rural vote is essentially split in these swing states, then John McCain's certain to lose."

McKee told the radio that rural voters in battleground states were so essential to President George W. Bush's election in 2000 and re-election in 2004 that they "drove his victory."

However, Republican media consultant Bill Greener said in the radio interview that he believed the three-week period of the survey, from Oct. 1 to 21, could be different from the rest two weeks before the election day.

Rural Americans, who account for about 20 percent of the total populations, are mostly social and fiscal conservatives. President Bush beat his rival, John Kerry, in rural districts nationwide by 19 points in 2004.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei