Among those polled, 51pc favored the McCain-Palin ticket, while 41pc favored running mates, Obama and Biden.

The poll, conducted by Democratic pollster Anna Greenberg, of Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, showed that the selection of Alaska governor Sarah Palin was a popular choice.

Two-thirds of those polled said she represents values of rural communities, according to a statement from the Center for Rural Strategies, which sponsored the poll on behalf of the National Rural Assembly, a rural advocacy organisation.

Of those polled, 50pc said the selection of Palin made them more likely to vote for the Republican ticket, while 31pc said they would be less likely to support the McCain-Palin ticket.

Despite a major outreach to rural areas by the Obama-Biden campaign, the poll released today is "virtually unchanged" from a similar poll in May.

Rural areas in "red states" played a key role in electing President Bush in both 2000 and 2004.

The 10-point spread is narrower this year, compared to the 13-point spread between Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry in 2004.

"Rural voters will play an important role in this election," said Tim Marema, vice president of the Center for Rural Strategies.