official SC Democratic results thread

[Alcon]

Obama can't afford anything less than having this one called for him the moment the polls close.

The networks didn't call uncommitted vs. Clinton in Michigan.  They aren't calling this one upfront and, if they do, it's going to be the surprise of the primary reason.  Probably would even eclipse NH.

[Alcon]

The problem from these reports is that they're relative to the GOP primary, which is unhelpful because some areas just have more Democrats...but if Dorchester County is reporting a higher turnout than last weekend overall, suffice it to say that Dem turnout is strong.  (Actually, it's unclear, since some report as "average" - average of what?)

Reports from various counties:
Marlboro County (Bennettsville) -- heavy
Majority black, but not by much.  A good share of Democratic whites.

Dorchester County (St. George) -- slightly heavier than last weekend
Heavily white and fairly well-off.  Strongly Republican

Charleston County (Charleston) -- much heavier in some precincts
Wow!!!  Heavily Democratic precincts, by chance?

Williamsburg County (Kingstree) -- average
Heavily black

Edgefield County (Edgefield) -- very busy
Mostly white, although most primary voters are doubtlessly black

Cherokee County (Gaffney) -- greater turnout than last week
Pretty impressively in a nearly 2-to-1 GOP county

Hampton County (Hampton) -- turnout is much higher than last week
Again, in a place where Kerry broke 60%, this is pretty useless information

Darlington County (Darlington) -- fairly good
Fairly good for what?  Whatever.

This information is pretty useless, overall.  No strong trends.  Not great news for either Obama or Clinton.

[Alcon]

Fox said people who thought Bill Clinton's campaigning was important broke evenly between Obama and Clinton. This is going to be a landslide.

I don't think that's particularly indicative, but we'll see.

[Alcon]

Why does CNN use that lame color coding?

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CNN says they will project a winner upon close, it looks like.  If that's what "shortly" means.

Probable Obama landslide().

[Alcon]

Projected for Obama

Holy anticlimax Batman.

Second place contest between Clinton and Edwards.

[Alcon]

Blacks 81-17 Obama.  Edwards at 1% (ouch!)

White voters Edwards 39%, Clinton 36%, Obama 24% (ouch)

Black women stronger for Obama than men?  Huh.

[Alcon]

White men Edwards 44, Clinton 28%, Obama 27%

White women Clinton 42%, Edwards 35%, Obama 22%

[Alcon]

61% of voters were women (yikes), only 10% were under 30.

Any overall exit poll numbers?

Not yet.

[Alcon]

Is CNN's exit poll just not up yet online, or merely not working for me?

Not up yet

[Alcon]

FIRST RESULTS IN--

OBAMA LEADS 70%, CLINTON 18%, EDWARDS 12%!!!

Eraserhead, thoughts?

[Alcon]

Damn, that's some strong black turnout.

[Alcon]

Was Gravel on the ballot?

Yes.  He hasn't had a vote yet

[Alcon]

Actually Obama will be in the mid 50s....that'll be enough to make him the new frontrunner.

Don't be too optimistic.

[Alcon]

Any overall exit poll figures yet?

http://election.cbsnews.com/campaign2008/exitPoll.shtml?state=SC&race=P&jurisdiction=0&party=D

"Sex By Black"?  Interesting...

[Alcon]

Gravel has 27 votes.

Still fewer than Kucinich, who has dropped out.

And was a joke before he dropped out.

[Alcon]

It looks like Clinton will probably carry Horry County (Myrtle Beach) and nothing else.

One of 46 counties.

Ouch.

[Alcon]

Insane turnout:

There were almost 80% as many votes in this primary as there were for Kerry in the 2004 General.

Excluding unallocated votes (which inflates numbers some), this went as high as 93% in the third district.

[Alcon]

In fact, turnout in Newberry County was 102% of what Kerry's vote in 2004 was.  Considering that growth was only about 2 percent, that's absolutely incredible.

[Alcon]

One thing I admire about Hildebrand is that he just said no to handing out walking around money - a first on the Dem side in SC.

Walking-around money?