South Carolina PingAdd me to the list. / Remove me from the list.
Posted on 04/10/2007 2:01:34 PM PDT by John Cena
4/10/07) U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has rocketed to the top of the field of contenders for the South Carolina Democratic presidential primary crown, leaving the candidacy of New York Sen. Hillary Clinton in a cloud of dust.
The news stunned political experts and pundits.
“Obama has started a brush fire across the country” that Clinton may find difficult to quench, said Francis Marion University polit1ical scientist Neal Thigpen.
“Obama clearly has got momentum,” said Winthrop University professor Scott Huffmon.
The Illinois senator’s showing represents a complete turnaround for Obama who trailed in earlier South Carolina surveys.
Today, Obama holds a comfortable lead in South Carolina, according to a new telephone poll.
He leads with 34 percent of the Democratic primary vote, followed by Clinton with 20 percent.
What is worrisome for the Clinton campaign is that she is in danger of slipping into third place in South Carolina. The poll shows that former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards is only three percentage points away from overtaking Clinton.
Matt Towery, chief executive officer of the Atlanta-based polling firm Insider Advantage, was somewhat surprised by the Obama showing.
“The margin of Obama’s lead in South Carolina was stronger than I expected this early in the race,” he said.
Obama was the overwhelming choice of blacks, winning 33 percent of the African-American community, to 28 percent for Cliinton.
That represents a sharp shift in black sentiment since both candidates announced their candidacy. Obama was unknown at the time.
“More and more blacks are for him,” Thigpen said. “A lot didn’t know him at the time of his announcement. That changed as more came to hear him and know him.”
The telephone poll was taken of 500 registered Democratic voters April 6-8.
The good news couldn’t have come at a better time for Obama. On Friday, he will put in a campaign appearance in Florence where he will conduct a noon community meeting on healthcare services.
That will be followed by an address that evening to the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus at its annual dinner in Columbia. Clinton tried to get invited but was turned down.
Mo Elleitlee, a spokesman for the Clinton campaign, dismissed the latest South Carolina poll numbers.
“It’s way too early in the campaign to be talking about polls,” he said. “Polls don’t mean that much right now.”
He then added, “We’re .looking forward to the debates.”
Huffmon cautioned the Obama folks not to get too cocky.
“Hillary has got a lot of money to help make up for the lost ground,” he said, noting that she raised $26 million the first quarter and that she has access to millions more.
Obama pretty much matched her dollar for dollars in that first reporting period.
The $64,000 question is can Obama sustain the momentum he has? How will he measure up against the competition?
The upcoming debates April 26 will be crucial.
Hillary has a little baggage when it comes to health care.
These three Democrats are Bad, Worse, and Worst, and I’m not altogether sure which is which.
But, if she doesn't make it to the general election, will her supporters come out to vote for the Democrat candidate, or just stay at home on election day?
Yes.
The Clintons may force her onto the ticket as VP, though.
A young liberal man in our family said in all sincerity, that health care should be free, it is a right and no one should have to pay a dime for anything. Of course, he doesn’t want to be a doctor.
you forgot sarcasm tag, JohnnyZ
I am thinking of 2000 and Jesse Jackson or just losing my marbles?
South Carolina PingI do know that most of all, I want for bill and hill to be sent packing once and for all.
For that "woman" to become the first female president would be more than I could bear. For that IMPEACHED hillbilly to become the first "first gentleman" would be even more that I could bear.
I sat on the bed and cried when carter was elected. I don't know what I would do if the clintbilly nightmare at 1600 Pennsylvania comes true.
This same exact letter has been circulated about Kerry, Bush and several other presidential candidates in the past.
And his father a member of the Kenyan Mao-Mao terrorist organization....?
Seems to me that if Edwards can’t get a least a 2nd place finish in a neighboring state, his campaign is toast..
Hey dude...I liked your latest movie....(g)
Yes she is. For that reason, I hope she wins the primary.
Whats next? A vast Left wing conspiracy? I hope these candidates have good security details.
Wow, this is funny! I can’t believe she is fading already.
Her demise will be a thing of beauty as she will go down screaming until the end, just like that old green Wicked Witch of the West.
2000 was pretty much just Gore waltzing his way towards his assumed rightful thrown. ;) Bill Bradley was hanging around but was way to the left and didn’t have the resources.
Sharpton did defeat Howard Dean and Wesley Clark in 2004, which was reason for a chuckle—and perhaps vindicates your mind. ;) Edwards took 45% and Kerry just shy of 30% in SC.
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