West Virginia voters on Tuesday backed Republic hopeful John McCain in the U.S. presidential election, Fox television network projected.

West Virginia is a traditional red state whose residents predominantly vote for the Republican Party. In 2004 presidential election, the state voted for George W. Bush.

West Virginia has five votes in the Electoral College, which selects the president based on the results in each state.

A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win the White House.

(Xinhua News Agency November 5, 2008)