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  1. Obama Wins South Carolina Primary

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    27.Jan.08, 02:42 EST Blog edited on: 18.Feb.08, 12:59 EST

    COLUMBIA, S.C. — Senator Barack Obama won a commanding victory over Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in the South Carolina Democratic primary on Saturday, forging a coalition of support among black and white voters in a contest that sets the stage for a state-by-state fight for the party’s presidential nomination.

    In a bitter campaign here infused with discussions of race, Mr. Obama’s convincing victory puts him on equal footing with Mrs. Clinton — with two wins each in early-voting states — and gives him fresh momentum as the contest plunges into a nationwide battle over the next 10 days.

    Former Senator John Edwards, a native of South Carolina who was trying to revive his candidacy, came in third place but vowed to keep his campaign alive, despite failing to win a single state so far.

    Nearly complete returns showed Mr. Obama with 55 percent of the vote, Mrs. Clinton at 27 percent, and Mr. Edwards at 18 percent.

    In his victory speech to supporters in Columbia, Mr. Obama emphasized his message of change, referring to “this country’s desire for something new.”

    “Tonight, the cynics that said what began in the snows of Iowa was just an illusion were told a different story by the good people of South Carolina,” Mr. Obama said, referring to his last major victory in the Iowa caucus. “After four great contests in every corner of this country, we have the most votes, the most delegates and the most diverse coalition of Americans we’ve seen in a long, long time.”

    Shortly after the polls closed, Mrs. Clinton flew to Tennessee to hold a campaign rally as she looked ahead to the next round of contests. “I want to tell you how excited I am that now the eyes of the country will turn to Tennessee and the other states that are voting on Feb. 5,” she said. “Millions and millions of Americans will have the chance to have their voices heard and their votes counted.”

    Mrs. Clinton also referred to Tuesday’s primary in Florida, suggesting that she intends to focus on the state, which has been stripped of its delegates because the vote is being held earlier than party rules allow.

    Mr. Edwards, speaking to supporters in South Carolina, pledged to continue his fight against Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton.

    “Now the three of us move onto Feb. 5, where millions of Americans will cast their vote,” he said. “Our campaign has been about one thing from the very beginning and that is to give voice to the millions of Americans who have had absolutely no voice in this democracy.”

    In the South Carolina contest, more than half of the voters were African-American, and surveys of voters leaving the polls suggested that their heavy turnout helped propel Mr. Obama to victory.

    Mr. Obama, who had built an extensive grass-roots network throughout the state, received the support of about 80 percent of black voters, the exit polls showed. He also received about one-quarter of the white vote, with Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Edwards splitting the remainder.

    Mr. Obama was helped by strong support from black women, who made up one-third of the voters. Mrs. Clinton, with the help of her husband, had competed vigorously for black women voters, but Mr. Obama received about 80 percent of their support, according to the exit polls, conducted by Edison/Mitofsky for the National Election Pool of television networks and The Associated Press.

    A large majority of Democratic voters in the state said America was ready to elect a black president or a woman president. About a third of the them said they did not decide which candidate to support until the past week.

    A heightened anxiety about the nation’s economy was at the center of the primary. More than twice as many voters said it was the most important issue facing the country, overtaking health care or the war in Iraq.

    Mrs. Clinton was supported by about 3 in 10 women over all, the exit polls showed. Among white women, she received support from 4 in 10, and among black women, less than 2 in 10. She had competed aggressively for their vote, particularly African-Americans to offset Mr. Obama’s advantages
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