Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008

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

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.

Get The State newspaper delivered to your home. Click here to subscribe.