Obama Easily Wins South Carolina Primary

Illinois Senator Far Outpaces Hillary Clinton And John Edwards For Pre-Super Tuesday Victory

(CBS/AP)  With the overwhelming support of African-American voters, Democratic Sen. Barack Obama easily won the hard-fought South Carolina Democratic primary on Saturday. Hillary Rodham Clinton finished in second place and John Edwards in third.

Obama achieved the biggest margin of victory yet in a Democratic primary contest. His victory over Clinton and Edwards came after a racially charged battle that served as a prelude to the Feb. 5 coast-to-coast competition for more than 1,600 national convention delegates.

With all precincts reporting, Obama had 55 percent of the vote, more than doubling Clinton, who came in at 27 percent. Edwards, who was born in South Carolina, finished with 18 percent support. Obama also gained 25 convention delegates, Clinton won 12 and Edwards eight.

---

Complete South Carolina Returns

---

``The choice in this election is not about regions or religions or genders,'' Obama said at his victory rally. ``It's not about rich versus poor, young versus old and it is not about black versus white. This election is about the past versus the future.'' (Watch Obama video.)

In Nashville, Tennessee, Clinton congratulated Obama and put the focus on upcoming contests. "Now the eyes of the country turn to Tennessee and the other states that will be voting on Feb 5th," she said.

Edwards vowed to stay in the race after another disappointing finish, saying he would ``give voice to all those whose voices aren't being heard.'' (Watch Edwards video.)

According to CBS News exit polls, more than half of the Democratic primary electorate in South Carolina was African American. African American voters overwhelmingly supported Obama, with nearly 80 percent backing the Illinois senator. (See Exit Poll Data)

Forty percent of white voters backed Edwards, and 36 percent backed in Clinton. Twenty-four percent of white voters backed Obama.

Fifty-four percent of women - including more than three in four black women - supported Obama. Clinton received the support of 30 percent of women. Obama was strongest among men, especially black men, while Edwards was strongest among white men.

The economy was far and away the issue most on the minds of South Carolina Democrats. It was cited as the most important issue by 52 percent of voters, followed by health care at 25 percent and the Iraq war at 19 percent. Nine in 10 South Carolina Democratic voters say the U.S. economy is in bad shape.

Fifty-five percent of South Carolina Democrats viewed Obama as the candidate most likely to unite the country, and 48 percent cited him as most likely to beat a Republican in November. Clinton was cited as most likely to unite the country by 26 percent of Democrats, and 36 percent said she was most likely to win.

South Carolina's primary offered 45 Democratic National Convention delegates, as well as the campaign's first indication of Obama's political appeal in a state with a large black population.

With 99 percent of precincts reporting, more than 532,000 votes had been tabulated. The record-breaking returns easily eclipsed the 280,000 people who voted in the Democratic primary in 2004.

All three contenders campaigned in the state on primary day, but only Obama and Edwards spoke to South Carolina supporters after the polls closed. Clinton decided to fly to Tennessee, one of 22 states holding Democratic primaries and caucuses on Feb. 5.

The South Carolina primary marked the end of the first phase of the campaign for the presidential nomination, a series of single-state contests that winnowed the field and conferred co-front-runner status on Clinton and Obama, but had relatively few delegates at stake. That all changes in 10 days' time, when New York, Illinois and California are among the states holding contests in a virtual nationwide primary.

The victory was Obama's first since he won the kickoff Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3. Clinton, a New York senator and former first lady, scored an upset in the New Hampshire primary a few days later. They split the Nevada caucuses, she winning the turnout race, he gaining a one-delegate margin. Clinton hopes to become the first woman to occupy the White House, and Obama is the strongest black contender in history.

After playing a muted role in the earlier contests, the issue of race dominated an incendiary week that included a shift in strategy for Obama, a remarkably bitter debate and fresh scrutiny of the former president role in his wife's campaign.

"By injecting himself into the Democratic primary campaign with a series of inflammatory and negative statements, Bill Clinton may have helped his wife's presidential hopes in the long term but at the cost of his reputation with a group of voters that have long been one of his strongest bases of political support," wrote CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs. (Read Ververs' full analysis.)

[eddynewhope]

LOL. Hillary could be the SECOND Clinton to get impeached should she effectively sleaze and lie her way into the White House. Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xq8aopATYyw

[rowdytexan2]

I don''t think Hillary has anything to worry about. They''ve been investigated by everybody in the nation.

You need to look at records and qualifications instead of rumors.

[eddynewhope]

Uuuuuuh - with all due respect, that''s Hillary on film lying about millions of dollars in campaign contributions along with the court documents and videotape to back it up. That''s an impeachable offense.

[oldabeeagle]

The Billary strategy is to turn off new voters and get them to stay home. The Billary strategy is to be annoited by the DNC.

[eddynewhope]

And as far as issues go, Hillary supported the war in Iraq and Iran, voted for NAFTA (essentially hurting American workers), failed at universal health care, etc. etc. Beyond that, the "issue" of how the Clintons have conducted this election speaks volumes about their character. They have shown themselves to be liars and hypocrites to an almost unfathomable degree. Their cynical use of race AND gender to manipulate voters is despicable and has done material damage to the Democratic party.

[eddynewhope]

Hey StarsNBars - Where is Barack bringing up the race issue exactly? Please. Show me. I have been looking but I can''t find it - only Bill and Hillary using race AND gender to gain votes in a short-sighted and cynical strategy that has divided the Democratic party to the point that you will see a mass exodus if the best the Dems can do is another Clinton.

[oldabeeagle]

Democrats, Republicans, and independents all respect and admire Barack Obama. However, they all LOATH Billary. I would gladly vote for Gore, Obama, Edwards, Kuccunich, or many other candidates. However, I will never vote for Billary again.

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/05/31/040531fa_fact1

[oldabeeagle]

My white conservative republican state senator respects and admires Barack Obama.

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/05/31/040531fa_fact1

[eddynewhope]

xmasxmas - Good luck with your Rove approach to politics: hate, fear, and bigotry. You are a bona fide liar. Obama is a Christian. I think you know that, but like the Clintons, you think the rest of us are too stupid to separate the lies from the truth.

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by xmasxmas at 07:01 PM : Jan 26, 2008

Well said!

[truth-hurts]

lastdance....Lies, Lies, and more lies.

[realpatriot1]

starsnbars,

What issue are you using besides race?

You are a lyer so I assume you''re either a Republican or Clinton supporter. Pretty much the same thing.

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by OldAbeEagle at 06:50 PM : Jan 26, 2008

That''s where you''re wrong, and that''s why this is going to be a close democratic race.

Obama may make a good president someday, but he hasn''t a clue how to handle the problems facing this country today.

I''ll lock in my ballot for Hillary as the candidate that can get things done. You folks can go out promote your smut and scum. But it may not change the outcome of this election.

If you''re so het up on smut and scum...turn it where it really belongs, toward the Neocon republicans and get them the hell out of the White House!

[ontheleft]

"Americans get the government they deserve"

I''m sorry, but we didn''t deserve George Bush.

[truth-hurts]

Take another look folks. Those of you who voted for Obama are playing right into the hands of the Republicans.

[oldabeeagle]

My white conservative republican state senator respects and admires Barack Obama.

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/05/31/040531fa_fact1

[truth-hurts]

Speak for yourself Eddy. And just how do you know what the Clintons are thinking?

[ontheleft]

"Take another look folks. Those of you who voted for Obama are playing right into the hands of the Republicans."
Posted by Truth-hurts at 07:16 PM : Jan 26, 2008

Wha?? I''ve come to realize Obama is more electable than Hillary. He''s a uniter, not a divider. My opinion of Hillary is that while she is liberal on social issues, she is a card carrying neo-con otherwise. She''s also alarmingly power hungry and is the type who will do anything to get elected. That scares me. The only thing I admire about her is her ability to pi$$ off republicans. But this country does not need to replace a divider with another one.

[l00ker]

Take another look folks. Those of you who voted for Obama are playing right into the hands of the Republicans.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Truth-hurts at 07:16 PM : Jan 26, 2008


In what way?

[erasmus6]

Oh p-o-o-p.

[truth-hurts]

Eagle, Of course your White conservative Republican State Senator respects and admires Obama. He hopes you nominate him for President too because that will put a Republican back in the White house. Did you see the last Republican debate? For each attack the launched on Obama, they launched 10 on Clinton. They really, really don''t want Clinton to run for President because she WILL win.

[l00ker]

Barack Hussein IS a candidate for blacks and moslems and the drug culture and for crooked politicians in Chicago. He may think he is and be thought of as "the great black hope" and the man who would be "king"...(not even worthy of MLK''''s coat tails) - but the reality is this guy is transparent as as window and his speeches and promises are like a broken record. And now he is being molded by slick madison ave. marketing types. Any way you cut it..it IS a racial issue and he IS a cancidate who''''s main appeal is to blacks and blacks only. He''''ll win SC because he is....black.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by xmasxmas at 07:01 PM : Jan 26, 2008


Excuses excuses, a rout''s a rout, no matter how you spin it; besides, yesterday his poll numbers among whites in South Carolina was 10%. Today, he won 30% of the white vote.

[l00ker]

And that''s Husseinstein, like Hooozensteen, okay?

[l00ker]

Eagle, Of course your White conservative Republican State Senator respects and admires Obama. He hopes you nominate him for President too because that will put a Republican back in the White house. Did you see the last Republican debate? For each attack the launched on Obama, they launched 10 on Clinton. They really, really don''''t want Clinton to run for President because she WILL win.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Truth-hurts at 07:36 PM : Jan 26, 2008


We''ll see who''s living a fairy tale.

[oldabeeagle]

Republicans here brag that this county (DuPage County, IL) is the most republican county in the country. However, they are afraid that no one is going to pull a republican ballot on super tuesday because of Barack Obama.

[eddynewhope]

Looker - with all due respect, the GOP attacked Clinton because it is effective in garnering support from other Republicans. Hillary could not win a general election in which the GOP and Indis would come out in force against her (come out for "change"), and half of Dems would go with them, myself included. Hillary Clinton as the Dem nominee is every Republican''s dream.

[eddynewhope]

Sorry - last post was for TruthHurts, not Looker.

[eddynewhope]

Dunno - I think the Clintons would burn this party to the ground if it meant they would win the nomination. It seems they''re on track to do so. Imagine if they had been content with their two terms in office, and had backed Obama - or whoever won the Dem nomination. The Dems would have trounced the GOP, but now it''s up for grabs because Bill and Hillary have reignited "clinton fatigue" with great gusto. Even the slumbering Republicans are starting to rally. Very sad.

[l00ker]

"Hillary Clinton as the Dem nominee is every Republican''''''''s dream."



Agreed. But how do you convince the she-beast to stifle herself?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by ApprovedCBS at 07:54 PM : Jan 26, 2008


Oh, she will be piped down here soon for sure.

[l00ker]

Looker - with all due respect, the GOP attacked Clinton because it is effective in garnering support from other Republicans. Hillary could not win a general election in which the GOP and Indis would come out in force against her (come out for "change"), and half of Dems would go with them, myself included. Hillary Clinton as the Dem nominee is every Republican''''s dream.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by EddyNewHope at 07:51 PM : Jan 26, 2008


Indeed...no candidate can galvanize Republicans as much as Hillary Clinton, even MORE than Bill Clinton; she will be a very weak candidate come November, because the people who voted against her today, will be the ones voting against her this fall. Hillary is toast.

[oldabeeagle]

OBAMA wins 52% of the non-black 18-29 vote in South Carolina. Obama will win the new voters regardless of race or gender.

[truth-hurts]

I said that those of you who voted for Obama are playing right into the hands of the Republicans. How so? They know that if a Black man is nominated for President, White people who never even voted before will run out of their trailer parks to go and vote Republican.

[l00ker]

I said that those of you who voted for Obama are playing right into the hands of the Republicans. How so? They know that if a Black man is nominated for President, White people who never even voted before will run out of their trailer parks to go and vote Republican.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Truth-hurts at 08:04 PM : Jan 26, 2008


Let''s wait and see.

[ontheleft]

"I said that those of you who voted for Obama are playing right into the hands of the Republicans. How so? They know that if a Black man is nominated for President, White people who never even voted before will run out of their trailer parks to go and vote Republican."
Posted by Truth-hurts at 08:04 PM : Jan 26, 2008

All racists are repuglicans and they would never vote for a democrat anyway so your point is moot. Despite your fear of trailer park voters going to the polls in droves, I can assure you that millions of people will turn out in droves to throw the repuglicans out of power come November. The bible thumping racists couldn''t stop what happened in 2006 and they''re not going to be able to stop the tidal wave that''s coming at them now. Check out how many repuglican senators and congressmen are up for re-election this November compared to 2006. It''s gonna be a bloodbath.

[croft777]

Hillary,
Chin up, South Carolina we all knew Obama would take, no big deal. The press has been hard on you and Bill. If anyones to blame we can all point are fingers at those biased reporters who believe that their movie stars or something, like the people in this country really care about their biased opinions. They need to keep their big traps shut, we don''t care what they think, they are suppose to just report the news and stay neutral.They make me sick. And Obama needs to worry because the majority of the population here in the US are white, so his race card game won''t do much justice.

[l00ker]

Hillary,
Chin up, South Carolina we all knew Obama would take, no big deal. The press has been hard on you and Bill. If anyones to blame we can all point are fingers at those biased reporters who believe that their movie stars or something, like the people in this country really care about their biased opinions. They need to keep their big traps shut, we don''''t care what they think, they are suppose to just report the news and stay neutral.They make me sick. And Obama needs to worry because the majority of the population here in the US are white, so his race card game won''''t do much justice.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by croft777 at 08:16 PM : Jan 26, 2008



I see a pattern here with these Hillary folks, they are obsessed with talking about race.

[samthetvcat]

Anybody think having Bill give Hillary''s concession speech is the type of tactic that led to Hillary''s defeat in SC today? Strange . . .

[justrains]

White sheets and burning cross''

[truth-hurts]

ontheleft - I hope you''re right.

[justrains]

White sheets, burning cross''

[croft777]

ApprovedCBS
I''m glad I don''t hold that opinion. I think this country is in for a real surprise come February. It amazes me the wussies out there who are scared to death that a woman might just have the power it takes to win.

[l00ker]

I''''m glad I don''''t hold that opinion. I think this country is in for a real surprise come February. It amazes me the wussies out there who are scared to death that a woman might just have the power it takes to win.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by croft777 at 08:31 PM : Jan 26, 2008


Pelosi will be a better president than Clinton, motherly even.

[l00ker]

White sheets, burning cross''''


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by justrains at 08:25 PM : Jan 26, 2008



Are you trying to tell us something?

[mommalolo]

Whites vote for Edwards. blacks vote for Obama, females vote for Clinton. Give me a break!!! This isn''t an elections of gender or race. It is an election of issues at a time when our country needs to think to the future.

[andersenme]

KENNEDYS TREND ... OBAMA !!!

CAROLINE KENNEDY SCHLOSSBERG, THE LAST SURVIVOR OF THE CAMELOT WHITE HOUSE, IS SET TO PASS THE TORCH TO A NEW MESSENGER OF HOPE ... SEN. BARACK OBAMA !!!

Martin Edwin Andersen
Churchton, Maryland

[samthetvcat]

Yay - go Caroline! Caroline for President ''16!!!!!

[j62kd4b]

I said from the beginning: Obama (Pres); Edwards (VP); Clinton, H (def); Clinton, B (Sec. of State) -
hELL OF A SLATE COMPARED TO THE GW BUSH/CHENEY OF THE LAST 7 YEARS!!!

[Kysparky]

This race has nothing to do with who is right or wrong, who is qualified or not, who can handle the job. It does however have everything to do with color and that is beginning to get scary. If this country doesn''''t start banding together, black white, democrat republican and start looking for some commen ground we are going to wake up one morning and the USA as we now know it will no longer be.

[ki8911]

All this blah blah about electability. Vote for the person YOU feel bests represents you. I want Obama because he isn''t a DCcrat. He''s smart, new, he doesn''t say god is telling him what to do. The Clintons did their thing, now it''s time for some fresh and different perspectives. Let''s not worry right now who is "electable" or who can win against whoever becomes the Republican nominee. I think it will be most interesting come this November. Americans gave Bush their support and he blew us all off. So please folks, the nastiness I''m reading, what are you accomplishing?
Peace

[donbl1]

J62K, I thought Bubba was supposed to be in charge of female interns.