Obama Wins South Carolina

Posted on January 26, 2008

As expected, Barack Obama has won the South Carolina Democratic primary by a large margin. Final numbers aren't in yet, but CNN has called the race for Obama, with Hillary in second and Edwards in third.

According to the exit polls, Obama won 81% of all the African American vote, but only 24% of the white vote. Hillary won 24% of the African American vote and 36% of the white vote. Edwards received only 1% of the African-American vote and 29% of the white vote. Hillary won the white female vote and the older white vote. African American men and women voted for Obama in the same percentages. These internal numbers have to be troubling for the Obama campaign. Georgia is the only other state that has that big of an African American population. Hillary is really pulling the white female vote, as well as the vote of those over 60. Expect Obama to increase his targeting of female voters in the days ahead.

The candidates only have 10 days until Super Tuesday (with Florida on the way), so South Carolina is now firmly in their rear view mirrors.