South Carolina

Something doesn't seem quiet right about that. If Hillary wants to shake the "wife" image then she should be out there giving the speech - not Bill.

South Carolina Primary-President

Democratic REPORTING: 99% Candidate Votes % Obama, Barack 295,091 55% Clinton, Hillary 141,128 27% Edwards, John 93,552 18% Kucinich, Dennis 551 0%

UPDATED: Mon Feb 4, 2008 at 08:50 am EST

The results will automatically update in your browser as new results come in. This is something I am testing out, so please let me know how it works.

UPDATE 7:00:
With 0% reporting MSNBC is now declaring Obama the winner.

7:02:
CNN is also calling it for Obama (the results in the tracker come from CNN which is why the green projected winner arrow is now next to Obama's name).

7:06:
AP and Fox calling it for Obama - still 0% reporting.

7:08:
CBS calls it for Obama

7:10:
Washington Post calling it for Obama

7:20
ABC Calling it for Obama.

Obama is scheduled to give victory speech at 9:00pm EST.

7:40:
MSNBC projects Clinton to come in second.

7:45
CNN projects Clinton will come in second.

UPDATE 8:40:

Just playing with some numbers here. In the Republican primary there were 442,918 votes cast. With 67% of the precincts reporting the Democrats have already had 338,195 votes recorded. This shows that today's turnout will best last weeks turnout. Considering SC is a pretty red state that is bad news for the GOP.

It's around 50 degrees there so weather is not a problem and they are reporting that turn out is high. The leaves me ponering something. Last week they had snow during the Republican primaries - a weather anomaly in South Carolina. Doesn't that make it seem like God doesn't want Republicans to vote?

OK onto more serious things. I will have the election tracker up around 7:00pm est, which is when the polls close, so be sure to check back and you can track the results.

A lot of people are praising Obama for how he handled the pressure last night from Clinton. I was thinking the same thing at first, but then I got thinking long term. Would Obama's unity message cut it against a Republican contender? I doubt it.

I had bits and pieces gong through my head as I was trying to go to sleep and one really stuck out. Obama got on Clinton and Edwards saying that he picks out one vote out of thousands to pick on. Edwards had the best come back on that when he told Obama that he was doing the same thing - a reference to the Iraq war votes.

If Obama wants to face off against Republicans then he is going to have to learn to go for the jugular, because that is exactly what they will do to him. Also he can't expect to go after the Republican candidate full force and try to sing Kumbaya when they return fire.

If they thought it was bad because a Clinton supporter made an obscure reference to Obama's past drug use, then how are they going to react when a Republican makes it a front issue in the primary?

It's funny how just three days ago all the Republicans could talk about was South Carolina. It's also funny how the media makes a big deal about race issues in the Democratic race, but they never say anything about the Republicans. How about this example. None of the Republicans invited to speak at a MLK day even in South Carolina showed up. Tagged:  

• Election 2008
• South Carolina

In case you missed it

This was one of the best debates so far. I think all the candidates did good. It could have gone without the fight between Clinton and Obama, but Edwards became the star out of that. He shined tonight and showed what we need in a President.

One thing I have a problem with is this from Bii Schneider on CNN:

John Edwards just referenced a CNN poll that showed him the most competitive against John McCain in a general election match up, and he also highlights that in an ad running here. But there's a problem — that poll is a month-and-a-half old.

In the most recent CNN poll, Obama and Clinton both tie McCain. Edwards was not matched up in that poll. It's fair for Edwards to bring up the poll, but it's misleading to say he is the only competitive Democrat.

The problem with Bills analysis of Edwards claim lies right in his reasoning - Edwards wasn't included in their last poll. Perhaps the media should start including all the candidates more instead of the ones they want.

8:08 - Opening on the economy.

HRC: Wants to invest in green technologies to create jobs. Bush's rebate plan will leave 50-60 million people out. She did highlight that includes seniors on social security and their expenses have gone up more than their income.

BO: Starts with quoting MLK. GWB has skewed our tax code to the wealthy. Spent billions on a needless war. Wants tax cuts into the pockets of "hard working Americans'. Wants $500 for tax rebates and a supplement to social security payments.

JE: Thanking MLK. Added 5 mil people to the poverty level over last 7 years.Poverty is the "cause of my life". Invest in green infrastructure to create long term jobs. Attacked HRC and BO for supporting Peru trade deal.

BO: Goes after HRC on NAFTA. Attacks JE on voting for trade with China.

WOLF: Wants to get back to immediate economic stimulus

HRC: Doesn't want to open tax codes with GOP in Senate trying to make GWB tax cuts permanent.

8:20 - This is not the Nevada debate. They are going after each other.

JE: Blasts back at BO that Peru trade agreement left GWB enforcing it. BO says in a years time he will be enforcing it.

Suzanne Malveaux - Asked OB about HRC's claim that his package has jobs that can't be guaranteed. OB defends it by going after Bill and saying all the things he said are not true. This is what the media has been waiting for.

HRC - To BO - I think what you say and your record does matter. Going after him on his Reagan comment. Says the Republicans had ideas, but they were bad ideas. Says BO wants to put a lot of money into foreign aide but has not stated how he would pay for it.

Coverage continues here

Looking at CNN's exit poll data for SC, it looks like it will be a really tight race between McCain and Huckabee. Evangelical turn out was high (58%), but it doesn't look like the Evangelical vote was a lock in for Huckabee. He got 41% and McCain got 27%. The results should be coming in soon.

Priceless!

Fried squirrel from a popcorn popper. Yeah I bet all South Carolina dines on that all the time. I can hear the people of South Carolina (one of my favorite vacation spots) rushing to the polls for Huckaboner now!