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Sen. Barack Obama and his wife Michelle wave as they step off the stage after a rally, in Columbia, S.C. on Saturday. (AP) Last update - 08:31 27/01/2008 Barack Obama wins South Carolina Democratic primary By Reuters Tags: Barack Obama, Primaries Barack Obama won South Carolina's bitterly contested Democratic presidential primary with the aid of heavy black support on Saturday, dealing a setback to rival Hillary Clinton after a week of political brawling. Obama, an Illinois senator who would be the first black U.S. president, handily beat Clinton in the latest showdown in an escalating fight for the right to represent the Democratic Party in November's presidential election. Advertisement John Edwards, a former North Carolina senator, finished third. Returns from 86 percent of the state's precincts showed Obama winning 54 percent in the three-way race, Clinton gaining 27 percent and Edwards at 19 percent. The win for Obama after two consecutive losses to Clinton, in New Hampshire and Nevada, gives him new momentum heading into Feb. 5 "Super Tuesday" Democratic contests in 22 states. Clinton called Obama to congratulate him and headed from South Carolina to Tennessee, a Feb. 5 state, as the results began to roll in. "We now turn our attention to the millions of Americans who will make their voices heard in Florida and the 22 states as well as American Samoa who will vote on February 5th," Clinton said in a statement. The high stakes in South Carolina fueled a week of angry accusations and increasingly personal jabs between the two candidates, capped by a volley of attacks on Obama from Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, and questions about the role of race. Exit polls showed Obama won four of every five black voters, who made up more than half of the primary electorate. He also won one-quarter of white votes, higher than many had predicted. Edwards and Clinton split the remaining white vote. Edwards had chastised his two rivals for their squabbling and said the tone of the South Carolina contest was disappointing. "There's been a lot of effort by the other two candidates to tear each other down which is why I'm focused on the voters and doing positive things," he said. Voting was heavy at some polling stations and record turnout of more than 300,000 was expected in the first Democratic primary in the South. Clinton had left South Carolina for two days during the week and headed to states with contests on Feb. 5, leaving her husband to carry the campaign load here. All three candidates have portrayed themselves as the strongest leaders of a shaky economy. Clinton has hammered Obama for a lack of experience and highlighted her readiness to lead "from day one" in the White House. The Republican presidential contenders, who held their primary in South Carolina last week, are focused on Florida's Tuesday primary. Arizona Sen. John McCain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney are in a tight race in Florida, polls show, after splitting contests last week -- McCain won South Carolina and Romney won Michigan. McCain, who won the backing of Florida Gov. Charlie Crist on Saturday, turned the debate back to the Iraq war and accused Romney of backing a timetable to pull U.S. troops out -- a charge Romney angrily denied. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is desperately seeking a good showing that could get him back in the race. Giuliani, who once led the Republican field in national polls, has slipped after he essentially pulled out of the early voting states to concentrate on Florida. Related articles: Ambassador vs. Ambassador: Is Obama good for Israel Gaza overlooked by U.S. voters; economy dominates race Comparing McCain and Obama on Gaza Bookmark to del.icio.us   Officer convicted A military court convicts an IDF officer who led troops in a West Bank rampage. A different Anne Frank A Dutch Jewish condemns the distribution of a postcard of Anne Frank wearing kaffiyeh.   1.   oBAMA Wins we lose! 04:59  |  Avram 27/01/08   2.   Congratulations, South Carolina Democrats !! 05:05  |  Swiss (Dino) 27/01/08   3.   Hillary`s Whispering Campaign 05:53  |  Mark of Lewiston 27/01/08   4.   OBAMA IS ALREADY THE PRESIDENT OF US 06:06  |  indrajaya 27/01/08   5.   His voting Record 06:20  |  B. 27/01/08   6.   What happened to prejudice and political correctness ?! 07:43  |  redmike 27/01/08   7.   #2 - you mean blacks and not democrats! 07:45  |  redmike 27/01/08   8.   Inspiration 08:02  |  Mich 27/01/08   9.   REDMIKE 08:55  |  indrajaya 27/01/08   10.   Real Story 09:07  |  ATLAS 27/01/08   11.   Obama 09:09  |  Hilda 27/01/08   12.   #1 AVRAM you voted for Bush, Is US safer, prosperous???? 09:16  |  Marco 27/01/08   13.   Seems like you like playing Russian roulette?! 09:17  |  redmike 27/01/08   14.   http://preeedict.blogspot.com 09:21  |  Mike Mc Presley 27/01/08   15.   Well Done 10:00  |  Ari 27/01/08   16.   # 7 redmike, "I know now what a sore loser is....":) 10:00  |  Swiss (Dino) 27/01/08   17.   14 - did you check to see how many people agreed? 10:01  |  redmike 27/01/08   18.   #9 - seems like you agree with me about the race issue! 10:06  |  redmike 27/01/08   19.   Marco 10:12  |  Avram 27/01/08   20.   # 7 By the way, Mike,are Iowa,New Hampshire and Nevada voters.... 10:56  |  Swiss (Dino) 27/01/08   21.   16 - I am not pro any of the candidates ! 10:58  |  redmike 27/01/08   22.   to redmike 12:15  |  sev 27/01/08   23.   Dino, sadly, you do not understand my posts! 14:18  |  redmike 27/01/08   24.   22 - the conversation is not about Israel but the US primaries! 14:29  |  redmike 27/01/08   25.   # 18, REDMIKE 14:50  |  indrajaya 27/01/08   26.   # 23 Okay Mike, I got your point..... 15:10  |  Swiss (Dino) 27/01/08   27.   Why Obama won? 15:41  |  Brod 27/01/08   28.   #13. Obama`s religion is not the issue, but.. 16:37  |  ManInTheMiddle 27/01/08   29.   #27 Say Brad 17:05  |  ballistic 27/01/08   30.   American Blacks show their political power and potential 19:22  |  David 27/01/08   31.   No.27 19:59  |  Leo 27/01/08   32.   #28 - sorry but it`s time to read and to learn 21:38  |  redmike 27/01/08   33.   26 - thank you Dino! Friends at last :-) 21:40  |  redmike 27/01/08   34.   #4 indrajaya dont even count Obama 23:12  |  Gary Pineda 27/01/08   35.   #27 23:50  |  Nathan 27/01/08   36.   Leo #31 01:29  |  Brod 28/01/08

Today Online PM promises Abbas not to disrupt flow of aid to Gaza Responses: 179 Anti-Semitic incidents rise in Germany, Australia, U.S. in 2007 Responses: 129 Editorial: Gaza border crisis endangers peace with Egypt Responses: 118 Gideon Levy: IDF troops fell because of Israel's war of folly Responses: 76 Dutch Jewish group slams image of Anne Frank wearing kaffiyeh Responses: 67 Rosner's Domain Two days before the Florida primary, Rudy seeks solace in football The best Jewish date (What To Read) McCain using support for Israel to court Jews - and Christians Poll: How important is Israel in the 2008 election? More Headlines 02:45 Officials: Israel won't let Gaza border breach threaten security 02:21 Iran offers to help Egypt deal with chaos at Gaza Strip border 23:48 Report: Barak met secretly with Pakistan's Musharraf last week 01:38 AG: No cops will be indicted for involvement in October 2000 riot deaths 01:13 Lodz Ghetto document reveals 'Israel's 1st declaration of independence' 23:51 IAF wounds four Hamas militants in strike on armored car in Gaza 00:38 Arab FMs nix Syrian bid to strengthen Hezbollah as 8 killed in Lebanon 23:51 Palestinians stream back to Gaza as Egypt chokes off supplies 14:54 State: Israel to restore supply of industrial-use fuel to Gaza Strip 21:38 IDF reservists: Military must be kept out of political arguments 17:22 Court convicts IDF officer who led troops in W. Bank rampage 22:09 Shas rabbis: Party will quit coalition immediately if J'lem discussed 17:11 Israeli suspected of dealing in arms with Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade Previous Editions Select Day 27 jan 25 jan 24 jan 23 jan 22 jan 21 jan 20 jan 18 jan 17 jan 16 jan 15 jan 14 jan

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