LONDON (Reuters) - The latest winner of the hugely popular TV talent show "X Factor" faces a battle to top the pop charts this Christmas amid a determined Internet campaign to keep him off the number one spot.
Around 20 million viewers tuned in to watch teenager Joe McElderry triumph in Sunday's live final, and his debut single, a cover of American Miley Cyrus's "The Climb," was expected to emulate previous winners by securing the Christmas number one.
However, a drive has been hatched on the Facebook website to promote U.S. band Rage Against The Machine's (RATM) 1992 single "Killing in the Name" and could cause an upset.
"Are you getting fed up about the possibility of ANOTHER X-Factor Christmas No.1? ... us too ... so we're going to do something about it!" says the campaign, which has attracted more than 755,000 followers.
X Factor winners have easily secured the Christmas top spot for the last four years, and music experts have previously said there was little chance anyone could produce a serious rival.
However, the Official Charts Company (OCC) said initial sales tallies showed that RATM were ahead of McElderry, although he was expected to receive a boost when a CD version of his single is released on Wednesday.
"This is shaping up to be a very exciting battle between two different records which have captured the nation's imagination," said the OCC's managing director Martin Talbot.
"But, although Rage Against The Machine have started off in front, according to our initial sales estimates, there is no doubt that this tussle is far from over."
Simon Cowell, 50, the executive producer of "X Factor" and also the creator of popular U.S. show "American Idol," hit out at the campaign backing RATM last week, saying it was aimed at him and that it was "stupid."
Whoever finally comes out on top, one clear winner will be record company Sony BMG as both acts are on its label.
The 12 finalists from this year's X Factor show have already collectively topped the charts last month with their charity hit version of Michael Jackson's "You are not Alone."
(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Steve Addison)
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