US farm states may defect to Obama over McCain opposition to Farm Bill, ethanol subsidies

In Washington, speculation is growing that the US farm states, reliable Republican votes in recent years, may switch to the Democratic Party this November over opposition of republican candidate John McCain to ethanol subsidies, and his support for veto of the Farm Bill. The Wall Street Journal noted that contributions to the Republican Party form Farm states had dropped substantially this year. In previous farm crises of the 1890s and 1930s, farmers has defected in substantial numbers to the Democratic Party; three-time Democratic nominee William Jennings Bryan hailed from Nebraska where he staunchly defended the interests of small farmers.

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