Why Obama Won South Carolina

Increased Turnout Among Young And New Voters, Desire For Change Fueled Obama's Victory

(CBS)  CBS News Political Consultant Monika L. McDermott analyzes Sen. Barack Obama's victory in the South Carolina Democratic primary.

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While the political pundits may label the South Carolina win by Barack Obama as all about race, exit polls demonstrate that the truth lies a little deeper. In many ways Obama's win was similar to his early victory in the Iowa caucuses. Increased turnout, specifically among the young and new voters, and a desire among voters of all colors for needed change helped him to a resounding win.

The Voters

In an election year that has repeatedly seen record-breaking turnout in Democratic caucuses and primaries, South Carolina was no exception. For Barack Obama, those who boosted the turnout in Saturday's primary were part of the key to his victory.

Four in every ten voters Saturday were under the age of 45, up eight points from their share of the electorate in 2004 when they were 32 percent. Among these voters, Obama won 64 percent of the vote, compared to the 55 percent he received among those 45 to 59 and the 38 percent among voters 60 and older.

Among those at the polls on Saturday were a new crop of voters - 27 percent reported that this was either their first vote ever, or their first primary vote. Here again, Obama carried the day. He won 63 percent of the vote by first-time voters, and 57 percent among those who had never attended a primary before this year.

Turnout was also high among African-American voters. In 2004 blacks made up 47 percent of the electorate. On Saturday they were 55 percent of those at the polls. And among black voters Obama received 78 percent of the vote. Only 19 percent of African-Americans voted for Hillary Clinton, and only 2 percent for John Edwards.

This is not to say that African-American voters are opposed to Clinton. In fact, they express support for her candidacy, should she win the nomination. Overall, 77 percent of primary voters said they would be satisfied with a Clinton nomination, including 80 percent of black voters.

Among white voters, who were 43 percent of the Democratic primary electorate, 40 percent voted for Edwards and 36 percent supported Clinton. Only 24 percent of whites supported Obama.

While the race was cleanly divided along racial lines, there is evidence that the vote went beyond race. Voters in South Carolina, as in Iowa, found Obama attractive both on issues and on personal characteristics.

Issues Versus Character

Voters said candidates' positions on the issues were more important to them than were candidate characteristics - 59 percent to 39 percent respectively - but other answers seem to tell a different story. Obama won within every issue category, by roughly the same margin as he won overall. When it came to candidate qualities, however, voters made clear distinctions among the candidates.

The economy was the issue Democratic primary voters chose as the most important facing the nation, with 52 percent. The second most important issue - health care at 25 percent - trailed far behind. And only 19 percent of South Carolina's Democratic primary voters chose the war in Iraq as the country's most important issue.

Voters made virtually no differentiation among the candidates on these issues. Within each group of issue voters Obama won over 50 percent of the vote, Clinton never hit 30 percent and Edwards remained below 20 percent.

Despite voters' belief that issues mattered more to their vote than did the candidates' personal qualities, it is on personal qualities that the voters found real differences among the candidates. When asked what mattered most to them in a candidate, 54 percent of voters said they were looking for a candidate who could bring change, including 40 percent of whites and 65 percent of African-Americans.

One quarter of voters wanted a candidate who cared about them, and 14 percent wanted a candidate with experience. Nine percent wanted most a candidate who could win in November.

Not surprisingly, the candidate campaigning primarily as an agent of change - Barack Obama - easily won over voters on this characteristic. Three-quarters (75 percent) of those looking for a candidate to change things voted for Obama. Both whites and African-Americans chose Obama on this characteristic.

As has also been seen in national surveys and preceding exit polls, Clinton was seen as the candidate of experience, and Edwards as the candidate of compassion. Voters who said caring was the most important candidate quality to them voted for Edwards just above Obama - 43 percent to 40 percent. Among those looking for an experienced candidate, Clinton overwhelmingly carried the vote with 84 percent.

Among the only nine percent who went to the polls looking for electability, the vote divided in Obama's favor between him and Clinton. Forty percent of this group voted for Obama and 36 percent chose Clinton.

Is America Ready for a Black President?

One racial issue that lingers over all of the primaries and caucuses is America's readiness for an African-American president. In South Carolina, Democratic voters are optimistic - but black voters more so than white voters.

Forty-two percent of South Carolina Democratic primary voters believe America is definitely ready for a black president. Another 34 percent believe we are probably ready. These numbers are sharply divided by race, however. Only 27 percent of white voters think America is ready, half the number of blacks, of whom 56 percent feel the country is ready.

Obama's vote share was tied somewhat to these beliefs. Among voters who said we are either definitely or probably ready to elect a black president, 63 percent supported Obama, while among those who feel we are either probably or definitely not ready, only 23 percent supported Obama (48 percent supported Clinton).

Among African-Americans these beliefs make less of a difference, however. Sixteen percent of blacks say America is not ready to elect a black president, but even among these skeptics, Obama won 51 percent of the vote to Clinton's 43 percent.

Whites are more pragmatic - among the 29 percent who do not think America will elect a black president yet, only four percent supported Obama in the primary. Just over half, 51 percent, of these voters supported Clinton, and 45 percent chose Edwards.

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The CBS News South Carolina Democratic primary exit poll was conducted by Edison Media Research. The poll includes 1,905 voters surveyed as they left the polls in South Carolina on Saturday, January 26, 2008. The margin of error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points.

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Monika L. McDermott is assistant professor of political science at the University of Connecticut, where she teaches and conducts research on voting behavior and public opinion. Before joining the University of Connecticut, McDermott worked in election polling for CBS News and the Los Angeles Times. She holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles.

[kenudiggett]

Asking the "is america ready for .... " question is already racist. It suggests that somehow Obama (or whoever else might run) should somehow live a lesser life and wait until the racists and bigots have enough time to get in touch with their feelings and get themselves prepared. It''s also BS because anyone who says "America isn''t ready for ...." really means "I am not ready for ..." but they are too cowardly to say so.

It''s going to happen. Maybe not this year - but maybe it will if the Dems wise up and notice that in every possible measure Obama is better than every nominee for president they have had since at least WWII (and pretty much any Republican except Ike).

listen to Hillary and then listen to Obama right after her. who is the leader? who inspires you to be a better person? to take risks? to help others besides yourself? who challenges and inspires you to make a better life for yourself and a better community for others? why would you EVER want to throw that aside? what possible policy difference does Hillary (or Edwards) offer to make up for that gap?

I say that - and I am a McCain supporter - because I believe Obama will make us a better country when we are smart enough to elect him.

If you "aren''t ready for a black president" get ready. Or just shut up because we are not going to be anything less than our best so we can wait for you to leave the 17th Century and join us in the 21st Century.

[kenudiggett]

Asking the "is america ready for .... " question is already racist. It suggests that somehow obama (or whoever else might run) should somehow live a lesser life and wait until the racists and bigots have enough time to get in touch with their feelings and get themselves prepared. It''s also BS because anyone who says "America isn''t ready for ...." really means "I am not ready for ..." but they are too cowardly to say so.

It''s going to happen. Maybe not this year - but maybe it will if the Dems wise up and notice that in every possible measure Obama is better than every nominee for president they have had since at least WWII (and pretty much any Republican except Ike).

listen to Hillary and then listen to Obama right after her. who is the leader? who inspires you to be a better person? to take risks? to help others besides yourself? who challenges and inspires you to make a better life for yourself and a better community for others? why would you EVER want to throw that aside? what possible policy difference does Hillary (or Edwards) offer to make up for that gap?

I say that - and I am a McCain supporter - because I believe Obama will make us a better country when we are smart enough to elect him.

If you "aren''t ready for a black preseident" get ready. Or just shut up because we are not going to be anything less than our best so we can wait for you to leave the 17th Century and join us in the 21st Century.

[allfluff]

Obama won SC, because he shamelessly used race card. 80% of blacks voted for him.
He has no credibility as a "above the fray" candidate anymore.

[katefranklin]

They used to talk about "Reagan Democrats". Nowadays there are "Obama Republicans". I personally know once frothing-at-the-mouth Bush supporters who are voting for Obama. It is puzzling, but it is a real phenomenon. There is simply no such thing as a "Clinton Republican" today.

[rfield9]

Attn: NeoCon dupes of Limbaugh and FoxNews;

Have they reported to you yet, that McCain has been a Bush
rubberstamper and brownnoser for 7 years?

Have they reported to you yet, that Bush''s trickle-down
tax cuts for the wealthy in 2001, are now a clear failure?
Working Americans are now far worse off, than before
his Risky Tax Scheme.

Say goodbye to your utopian religious dictatorship, in Nov;

---

AOL.com

How would you rate President Bush''s overall job performance?

Poor 63%
Good 16%
Excellent 12%
Fair 9%

Total Votes: 124,457


How has your opinion of Bush changed over the course of his administration?

It''s more negative 60%
It hasn''t changed 27%
It''s more positive 13%

Total Votes: 105,923

[belker1-2009]

Do your think that OBama''s wife campaigning all across south Carolina with the message: "... it is our turn.." was missed by Afro/Americans who turned out in record numbers?


Of course, you are a member of the OBamania media and drunk on Obama''s snake oil. "Obama is always wonderful." "Hillary is always bad." The media practices this mantra in many forms, but the message is always the same. You''re no exception. Edward R is spinning in is grave to see his CBS sink so low in journalistic standards. CBS has traded facts for "feelings". It is the Katie era!


PS: For the unknowing, PhD stands for piled high & deep. Remember this as you read this article.

[belker1-2009]

Save me! I''m being help hostage by and evil CBS genie!

[belker1-2009]

Do your think that OBama''s wife campaigning all across south Carolina with the message: "... it is our turn.." was missed by Afro/Americans who turned out in record numbers?


Of course, you are a member of the OBamania media and drunk on Obama''s snake oil. "Obama is always wonderful." "Hillary is always bad." The media practices this mantra in many forms, but the message is always the same. You''re no exception. Edward R is spinning in is grave to see his CBS sink so low in journalistic standards. CBS has traded facts for "feelings". It is the Katie era!


PS: For the unknowing, PhD stands for piled high & deep. Remember this as you read this article.

[belker1-2009]

Do your think that OBama''s wife campaigning all across south Carolina with the message: "... it is our turn.." was missed by Afro/Americans who turned out in record numbers?

For the unknowing, PhD stands for piled high & deep.

Of course, you are a member of the OBamania media and drunk on Obama''s snake oil. "Obama is always wonderful." "Hillary is always bad." The media practices this mantra in many forms, but the message is always the same. You''re no exception. Edward R is spinning in is grave to see his CBS sink so low in journalistic standards. CBS has traded facts for "feelings". It is the Katie era!

[belker1-2009]

Do your think that OBama''s wife campaigning all across south Carolina with the message: "... it is our turn.." was missed by Afro/Americans who turned out in record numbers?

For the unknowing, PhD stands for piled high & deep.

Of course, you are a member of the OBamania media and drunk on Obama''s snake oil. "Obama is always wonderful." "Hillary is always bad." The media practices this mantra in many forms, but the message is always the same. You''re no exception. Edward R is spinning in is grave to see his CBS sink so low in journalistic standards. CBS has traded facts for "feelings". It is the Katie era!