S.C. Rout Revives Obama’s Quest

COLUMBIA — Lopsided support from African Americans and young voters helped Barack Obama rout Hillary Clinton and John Edwards in South Carolina’s Democratic primary Saturday.

The Illinois senator rode a wave of support from those voters who said change was more important than experience and electability. He took 55 percent of the vote to Clinton’s 27 percent in winning his second contest this month and first since losing to Clinton in New Hampshire and Nevada.

Though Edwards, a former N.C. senator, finished third with 18 percent, he vowed to push on. In 2004, South Carolina was the only primary the Seneca native won.

Democrats now head toward a flurry of contests on Feb. 5, when 22 states from California to New York hold primaries or caucuses.

"We saw the people of Iowa proclaim our time for change has come," Obama told cheering supporters in Columbia. "Tonight, the cynics who believed what (happened) in the snows of Iowa was just an illusion were told a different story by the good people of South Carolina.

"And in nine days, in nine short days, nearly half the nation will have a chance to join us in saying, ‘We are tired of business as usual in Washington, we are hungry for change, and we are ready to believe again.’ "

Clinton flew to Nashville, Tenn., as the polls closed. There, she looked ahead.

"Now the eyes of the country turn to Tennessee and the other states voting on Feb. 5," she said, adding, "millions and millions of Americans are going to have their voices heard."

Record S.C. turnout

Obama won 44 of 46 S.C. counties, rolling up his highest totals in a swath of eastern Pee Dee and coastal counties. He pulled more votes than all the 2004 Democratic candidates combined.There was a record turnout of more than 530,000 — 90 percent higher than in 2004 and 90,000 higher than last week’s Republican primary. Obama’s vote was higher than the total of the two leading Republicans, John McCain and Mike Huckabee.

Exit polls show Obama won the votes of eight out of 10 African Americans, who made up half the electorate. Clinton took most of the rest of the black vote, while Edwards took just 1 percent. In a more crowded 2004 field, he took 37 percent of the black vote.

Obama won about a quarter of the white vote, with Clinton and Edwards splitting the rest. And in South Carolina’s open primary, not all of Obama’s supporters were Democrats.

One Obama voter was self-proclaimed "hardcore" Republican Paul Hadley of James Island.

"He’s a pretty inspiring guy and I am just fed up with all of it up there (in Washington)," said Hadley, 59. "His catch word is ‘change,’ and I’m beginning to clue in on that because I do want some change."

In winning New Hampshire, Clinton won the majority of women’s votes. On Saturday, Obama won 54 percent of women, who made up six in 10 S.C. voters.

Obama also won more than 65 percent of voters between 18 and 29.

"I voted for Obama because he’s really reaching out to college students," said Travis Brown, a 20-year-old student at Columbia’s Benedict College. "He wants to improve and lessen the price of college and offer more assistance."

End of a bitter week

South Carolina was the Democrats’ most heated contest to date.

Clinton and Obama began last week trading jabs at a debate in Myrtle Beach. The bickering spilled into ads and escalated with attacks by surrogates, including former President Bill Clinton. David Axelrod, a top Obama adviser, said Saturday’s results sent a message about what he called the Clintons’ divisive tactics.

"This was a very, very strong repudiation of the tactics used here," Axelrod said. "The people of South Carolina were resolute that, ‘We don’t want to go there. This is about the future, not the past.’ "

Some Democrats warned the Clinton-Obama feud could create lasting divisions within the party. U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, South Carolina’s top black elected official, had suggested the former president "chill."

"I hope now we can get this whole idea of racial divisiveness behind us," he said Saturday.

With exit polls showing voters less interested in experience than in change, Obama clearly resonated.

"He talks about a lot of change," said J.D. Dennis, 41, of suburban Columbia. "And we need to give him a chance instead of the old establishment."