 Bryan had hoped to sweep the rural vote and make inroads on urban labor , but he was not successful . McKinley became the first Republican candidate to win in New York City , and won in its rival city of Brooklyn as well . He lost only one city with a population of over 45 @,@ 000 in the Midwest , and won many rural counties in crucial states . Although Bryan won all states south of Kentucky and from Texas east , McKinley won most urban centers there . 
