East Lansing (Michigan): Republican presidential candidate John McCain is giving up on winning the Democratic-leaning battleground state of Michigan.

Republican officials with knowledge of the strategy said the Republican candidate is shifting resources to other states. Democrat John Kerry won here in 2004, but McCain had tried to make it a target to switch parties this year amid economic problems in the state.

The news came as Barack Obama campaigned in the state yesterday.

The Arizona Senator cancelled a trip to the state next week, he won t run ads on TV after this week and is dispatching staffers to states that show him in stronger position.

The Republican National Committee also just went on TV in Michigan, but there appears to be no plans for that buy to continue either.
Source : PTI