McCain beats Obama in Georgia presidential voting

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - John McCain triumphed in U.S. presidential voting in Georgia on Tuesday, defeating an effort by Democrat Barack Obama to put the staunchly Republican state in play by boosting turnout among black voters, U.S. media reported.

McCain, an Arizona senator, had consistently led in opinion polls in Georgia, but Obama, who would be the first black U.S. president, hoped to make inroads by boosting turnout among blacks, who make up 30 percent of the state's population.

The victory gave McCain all of Georgia's 15 electoral votes and pushed him closer to the 270 needed for victory in the United States' indirect system of presidential elections.