Washington - The Republican presidential hopeful, Mr John McCain, has slipped in the key primary state of South Carolina, polls indicated yesterday as the Arizona senator denounced what he termed a "smear" campaign by the front runner, Mr George W. Bush.
A new poll found Mr Bush leading Mr McCain among likely voters in the state by 46-39 per cent before the vote on February 19th. Just five days earlier, the poll by the American Research Group put Mr McCain ahead 45-42 per cent.
