Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008

And now, the Democrats' turn

The Republicans have left. But the Democrats — or at least some of them — will be with us for the next week, leading up to Saturday’s S.C. Democratic presidential primary. It’s the fifth act for the Democrats, following the Iowa caucuses, the New Hampshire primary, theMichigan primary, boycotted by two of the Democratic Big Three, and Nevada’s caucuses. A look at how S.C. Democrats differ from those who have voted already in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Race: Plus to Obama?

Black voters could account for more than half of those casting ballots in Saturday’s S.C. Democratic primary. U.S. Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois have waged a fierce battle for their votes. Polls suggest Obama has the advantage as more black voters become excited about the historic prospect of a black man winning the nomination.

S.C. native and former U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina has spoken out most frequently about poverty — a larger problem in the Palmetto State than in other early-voting states. Despite that focus, Edwards has yet to break through in South Carolina this time. Still, with its large swaths of poverty, S.C. will be the most fertile ground so far for Edwards.

Clinton got a big chunk of her support in the New Hampshire primary from older voters; they are an important voting bloc here, too.

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