South Carolina Democrats cast votes today in a bitter presidential nominating race, with Barack Obama leading rival Hillary Clinton in polls and counting on heavy black support to carry him to a needed victory.
US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama greets supporters on stage during his final rally in Columbia, South Carolina, yesterday on the eve of South Carolina's Presidential Primary.
Voter turnout was heavy soon after polls opened at 7am (noon Irish time) under cloudy skies and chilly temperatures around much of the state, with long lines at polling places reported in early morning balloting.
Record turnout of more than 300,000 is expected in the first Democratic primary in the South, where black voters are likely to make up about half of the electorate. Polls close at 7pm (midnight Irish time), with results available soon afterward.
"I am absolutely convinced that we can win here, and we can win anywhere in the country," Obama, an Illinois senator, said at a late-night rally in Columbia that capped a week spent campaigning heavily across the state.
South Carolina is the latest test for Obama and Clinton, a New York senator, in their escalating battle for the right to represent the Democratic Party in November's presidential election.
After two consecutive losses, in New Hampshire and Nevada, Obama needs a win today if he hopes to head into the February 5th "Super Tuesday" contests in 22 states with a realistic chance of victory.
The high stakes fueled a week of angry accusations, harsh advertisements and increasingly personal jabs between the two candidates, capped by a volley of attacks on Mr Obama from Ms Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton.
Mr Obama accused the Clintons of distorting his record and angrily fired back with a radio ad charging "Hillary Clinton will say anything to get elected."
"Campaigns are contentious," Hillary Clinton told reporters yesterday in Rock Hill, South Carolina. "There is a perfectly legitimate role for drawing contrasts, for pointing to people's records, for correcting the record."
The other candidate in the Democratic race, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, chastised his two rivals for their squabbling and ran ads promoting himself as the grown-up in the contentious nominating battle.
A Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll today showed Mr Obama with a 41 per cent to 26 per cent edge over Clinton in South Carolina, with Mr Edwards in third place with 19 per cent.
The lead for Mr Obama, who would be the first black USpresident, is fueled by his 62 per cent support among black voters, the poll found. Ms Clinton and Mr Edwards are tied among white voters at 35 per cent, with Mr Obama at 19 per cent.