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Obama sweeps South Carolina

— PHOTOS: Agencies

Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama in a jubilant mood after he won the South Carolina primary on Saturday. Mr. Obama had 55 per cent of the vote, Ms. Clinton 27 per cent and Mr. Edwards 18 per cent.

COLUMBIA (S.C.): Barack Obama, bidding to become the first black President of the US, scored a landslide win over his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in the racially- charged South Carolina primary, blunting the momentum the former first lady enjoyed after her consecutive triumphs in New Hampshire and Nevada caucuses.

Riding on a massive African-American support, Obama last night routed New York Senator Clinton by 55 to 27 per cent in the state where more than 50 per cent of the voters were black and four out of five supported him. Among white voters, Obama took only about a quarter of the vote, with Clinton and former Senator John Edwards roughly splitting the remainder.

Projecting himself as an agent of change, Obama said: "There are real differences between the candidates. We are looking for more than just a change of party in the White House. We are looking to fundamentally change the status quo in Washington."

"It's a status quo that extends beyond a particular party, and that status quo is fighting back with everything its got, with the same old tactics that divide and distract us from solving the problems people face."

Obama, savouring his first victory after the Iowa caucuses, said his supporters had again proved the sceptics wrong.

"Over two weeks ago, we saw the people of Iowa proclaim that our time for change has come. But there were those who doubted this country's desire for something new who said Iowa was a fluke not to be repeated again," he told a crowd of about 1,500, who chanted "We Want Change" and "Race does not matter" and "Yes We Can."

"Well, tonight, the cynics who believed that what began in the snows of Iowa was just an illusion were told a different story by the good people of South Carolina," said Obama.

"The choice in this election is not about regions or religions or genders," the 46-year-old charismatic Democrat said in his victory speech.

"It's not about rich versus poor, young versus old and it's not about black versus white. It's about the past versus the future."

He declared that after four "great" contests in every corner of this country for party nomination for the Presidential elections, "we have the most votes, the most delegates and the most diverse coalition of Americans we've seen in a long, long time."

After her defeat, Clinton, who is also trying to script history by becoming the first woman President, said in a statement that she had called Obama to congratulate him.

"In the days ahead, I'll work to give voice to those who are working harder than ever to be heard," said the former first lady, who had emerged victorious in New Hampshire and Nevada primaries.

"For those who have lost their job or their home or their health care, I will focus on the solutions needed to move this country forward. That's what this election is about. It's about our country, our hopes and dreams. Our families and our future," she said in the statement.

Edwards came in third position with 18 per cent votes in the state where he was born and where he had scored a primary victory in his first presidential campaign four years ago.

But, he vowed to stay in the race.

-AP

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