LOS ANGELES, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Asian-Americans favor Democratic candidate Barack Obama over his Republican rival John McCain in the upcoming U.S. presidential election by a substantial margin, according to a survey release Wednesday.

    Obama was backed by 41 percent of Asian-American voters and McCain was supported by 24 percent, with 34 percent undecided, showed the National Asian-American Survey by researchers at the University of California-Berkeley, UC-Riverside, the University of Southern California and Rutgers University.

    In California, where one of three Asian-Americans live, the figures were almost identical with 42 percent for Obama, 24 percent for McCain and 33 percent undecided, it showed.

    Researchers said the survey was the largest scientific poll of Asian-American voters ever done -- both nationally and in California. About 1,100 Asian-Americans in California were interviewed by telephone in eight languages from August 18 to September 26.

    The survey also found that 67 percent of Asian-American citizens in California are "likely voters," with Japanese-Americans the most likely to vote (81 percent), followed by Koreans (73 percent), Filipinos (70 percent), Indians (68 percent),Vietnamese (67 percent) and Chinese (62 percent).

    Meanwhile, preferences for the presidential candidates vary widely by national origin, as support for McCain is highest among Vietnamese voters with 53 percent planning to vote for the Republican candidate.

    In contrast, a majority of Indians (62 percent) and Japanese Americans (53 percent) plan to vote for Obama. While Chinese and Filipino voters favor Obama over McCain, a large share remain undecided.

    Almost half of Asian-American citizens in California say they depend primarily on Asian-language television and newspapers to stay informed on politics, according to the survey.