Pipersville, Pa. (CNSNews.com) - In a speech on Monday to about 1,500 people in the small manufacturing town of Pipersville, Pa., Sen. John McCain told the crowd that he was the underdog in the 2008 presidential race and that he needs the help of rural Americans to win in November.

"I need your help in this upcoming election," McCain said. "I'm the underdog - have no doubt about it."

In fact, McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee, referred to himself as the underdog three times at the conclusion of his 35-minute appearance inside a warehouse decorated with red, white, and blue banners and a tractor-trailer truck converted into a seating section.

"I'm the underdog, and I'm going to need your enthusiastic support," McCain said. "Have no doubt, I'm the underdog."

In the last four presidential elections, the Democratic candidate won Pennsylvania. The last Republican presidential candidate to win the state was George H.W. Bush in 1988.

McCain told the crowd he would be traveling around the state in the months leading up to the election, seeking the support of those who "cherish their Second Amendment rights."

Becky Leibowitz, a nurse who lives in Newtown, Pa., told Cybercast News Service that she thinks urban areas like Philadelphia will go for Obama and that McCain needs the support of suburban voters who tend to be more conservative.

Cathy Fitzpatrick of Chesterbrook, Pa., said she thinks suburban Pennsylvania will be critical in the presidential race and that she will vote for the candidate who addresses her key concerns.

"I need to know who will protect our country and our hard-earned money," Fitzpatrick told Cybercast News Service.

McCain repeated his pledge to end all earmarks and to stop America's dependence on foreign oil, which he called a national security issue. McCain did not mention domestic oil exploration or drilling in his remarks or his opposition to drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge.

In response to a crowd-pleasing question about the proliferation of the Spanish language on products and phone answering systems, McCain said he was committed to "comprehensive immigration reform" that he said should include securing the border, a temporary worker program and hi-tech identification of employees. His only reference to language in his response was to say he supported learning the English language as a requirement of citizenship.

McCain did not say what should be done about the 12 to 20 million people who are in the United States illegally.

Carlo Grilletto of Doylestown, Pa., told Cybercast News Service that McCain's stop in Pipersville was a good campaign strategy.

"He needs to introduce himself to normal, everyday folks," Grilletto said. "He has to win over the average person."

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