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http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/01/19/south.carolina.gop/

Republican presidential candidates seeking a win in South Carolina’s primary — and an edge in what so far has been a wide-open race — were hoping voters would head to the polls despite bad weather.

Rain and snow were falling in some places on Saturday morning. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who was victorious earlier this month in Iowa caucuses, said the snow was “something we hoped wouldn’t happen.”

But, Huckabee said, “We have to take the weather for what it is. We don’t get to choose it. I just hope that our voters are so committed that it doesn’t affect the fact that they are going to vote, because ... it’s a mission that they have to deal with today.”

Malfunctioning voting machines plagued Horry County, which contains the cities of Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach, according to poll workers. Workers said the machines have been down since polls opened at 7 a.m., and they are not reading activation cards.

Workers were handing out paper ballots, but at least one precinct has run out — it had only 23 on hand. Poll workers said the county has about 100 precincts, and all of them are affected.

Historically, the path to the GOP presidential nomination has gone through South Carolina, which relishes its role of being the political gateway to the South. Residents like to point out that no one since Ronald Reagan has reached the White House without a South Carolina win.

“South Carolina is the state where the Republican base passes judgment on the candidates,” CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider said. “If conservatives are going to rally behind any single contender, we’ll see that happen in South Carolina.”

As of around 11 a.m., about 140 people had turned out to vote in the Seven Oaks precinct of Lexington County, South Carolina. Some of them, however, complained about phone calls earlier in the week from campaigns.

“It’s a little much,” said Kay Burns, who said she voted for Sen. John McCain of Arizona because “I like what he stands for.”

Others said they voted for Huckabee.
“I like the fact he’s a Christian,” said voter Stacee Groome.

Kay Burns’ husband, Ellus, said he voted for former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee because of his “presentation, maturity and Reaganism.” Burns said the most important issues for him are the economy and international relations