African-Americans, women fuel 2-1 win over Clinton

By JAMES T. HAMMOND - jhammond@thestate.com

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama seized the momentum in the Democratic race for president Saturday, trouncing U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton by a 2-to-1 ratio amid record turnout in South Carolina’s primary.

The Illinois senator soared ahead of the New York senator on the wings of a majority of African-American and women voters with a mantra for change.

“Yes, we can heal this nation,” he told supporters. “Yes, we can seize our future.”

More than 532,000 voted, the most ever in a Democratic primary in a state usually dominated by Republicans. Last Saturday, about 445,000 Republicans voted in the GOP primary.

One out of five voters said they were political independents.

Obama fired a passion for change, with more than half of voters saying government must be different. Three out of four of those voted for Obama.

Former U.S. Sen. John Edwards, a South Carolina native who won the state four years ago, finished a distant third. He pledged to stay in the race, saying the nomination could be decided at the party’s convention.

Three-quarters of voters questioned said the U.S. is ready for a black or woman president.

Obama won a majority of voters younger than 60.

The economy was voters’ biggest concern, and Obama won half of those votes.