Pennsylvania deals blow to McCain

Mr McCain made 12 campaign visits to Pennsylvania in the last 14 days

In a bitter blow to John McCain, projections indicate the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania has gone to his Democratic rival, Barack Obama.

Mr McCain had put great emphasis on campaigning in the state, and pre-ballot polls suggested it was close.

Pennsylvania - won by the Democrats in the past four elections - was seen as Mr McCain's best chance of stealing a Democratic-leaning state.

He must now win most of the remaining key states to reach the White House.

Correspondents say Mr McCain's strategy was to balance out likely losses of Bush states like Iowa and New Mexico by stealing Pennsylvania - a strategy that has apparently failed.

Verdict delivered

Just a few hours ago, Pennsylvania was the state the McCain campaign was saying it had to win to clinch the presidency.

The BBC's Matthew Wells in central Pennsylvania says at what was supposed to be the state Republican victory party, the projections immediately dampened the enthusiasm of tired campaign workers.

The fact the projection came just minutes after the polls had officially closed caught everyone by surprise, he says.

Ever since the party conventions, John McCain has been trailing in the polls by four to 12 points.

Despite 12 campaign visits to Pennsylvania in the past 14 days, it seems that voters have delivered their verdict, our correspondent says.