Washington - Presidential hopeful John McCain is withdrawing his campaign from Michigan after concluding there's little chance of defeating Barack Obama in the working class state.

McCain, the Republican nominee, will halt television and mailing campaigns, Politico reported Thursday, and shift staff to other states that are still competitive, some of them ones that Democrats typically win.

A McCain aid told Politico the decision was based in Michigan's preference for Democrats and because of the resources the Obama camp has poured into the state.

"It was always a long shot for us to win," the aide said of the northern state.

McCain will focus more on Wisconsin, which went Democrat in 2004, and improve his defences in Ohio and Florida, two states that backed President George W Bush, as well in Pennsylvania, where the race remains tight.

McCain's pullout should also free up some resources for Obama, but his campaign said will remain focused on Michigan.

"We will continue to fight for every vote in Michigan because middle class families there just cannot afford more of the same," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said. (dpa)