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Obama projected to win S Carolina Obama projected to win S Carolina
(20 minutes later)
Early projections suggest Barack Obama has won in South Carolina, where Democrats have been choosing who they want to run for US president.Early projections suggest Barack Obama has won in South Carolina, where Democrats have been choosing who they want to run for US president.
US media projections based on exit polls indicate Hillary Clinton has beaten John Edwards into third place. With 15% of the vote counted, Mr Obama led Hillary Clinton by 53% to 28%, with John Edwards trailing in third on 19%.
Early analysis suggests Mr Obama took a big share of the black vote, who made up about half the voters. Early analysis suggests Mr Obama took as much as 80% of the black vote, who made up about half the voters.
This is the Democrats' final test before Super Tuesday in 10 days' time, when more than 20 states will vote.This is the Democrats' final test before Super Tuesday in 10 days' time, when more than 20 states will vote.
Republicans have already held their poll in South Carolina, and are now campaigning for their next primary election in Florida on Tuesday.Republicans have already held their poll in South Carolina, and are now campaigning for their next primary election in Florida on Tuesday.
On Saturday morning long queues of Democratic Party supporters formed at polling stations in South Carolina, amid chilly, overcast weather.
Voting in the primary election was brisk, with some officicals predicting a record turn-out.
Psychological boostPsychological boost
It is the Democrats' first primary in the South of the US, where black voters are likely to play a big role. Voting in the Democratic Party's primary election was brisk, with some officicals predicting a record turn-out.
Some officials have predicted record turnout in South Carolina Some officials have predicted record turnout in South CarolinaIt is the Democrats' first primary in the South of the US, where black voters are likely to play a big role.
Ahead of the vote, the BBC's Kevin Connolly said that if it proved the case that Mrs Clinton finished some way behind Mr Obama, it would hand him a psychological boost before Super Tuesday. The BBC's Jamie Coomarasamy in South Carolina says the result gives an important lift to Mr Obama's campaign after consecutive defeats by Mrs Clinton in New Hampshire and Nevada.
It also sets the stage for a fierce battle between the two front-runners on Super Tuesday, he adds.
Mrs Clinton spent part of the week campaigning outside South Carolina, signalling that she was not expecting to win there.Mrs Clinton spent part of the week campaigning outside South Carolina, signalling that she was not expecting to win there.
The third candidate, John Edwards, is a native of the state, and won there in his failed run for the presidential nomination in 2004, but polls suggested he would struggle to make an impact this time. As the results came in, she was already on her way to Tennessee, one of the states voting on 5 February.
All three candidates made last-minute appearances in the state as polling was under way. Mr Edwards, is a native of South Carolina and won there in his failed run for the presidential nomination in 2004, but polls suggested he would struggle to make an impact this time.
He has failed to improve on his second place to Mr Obama in Iowa at the start of January.
'Nasty' battle
All three candidates made last-minute appearances in South Carolina as polling was under way.
Mr Obama greeted potential voters at a Baptist church, a historically black college and a restaurant in Columbia, while Mrs Clinton and daughter Chelsea stopped by a diner elsewhere in the state capital.Mr Obama greeted potential voters at a Baptist church, a historically black college and a restaurant in Columbia, while Mrs Clinton and daughter Chelsea stopped by a diner elsewhere in the state capital.
The idea of the first African-American nominee of a major party also is exhilarating, and so is the prospect of the first woman nominee New York Times Battle not black and whiteIn pictures: S Carolina votes Mr Edwards talked to voters at a restaurant in Mount Pleasant and called into a polling station.The idea of the first African-American nominee of a major party also is exhilarating, and so is the prospect of the first woman nominee New York Times Battle not black and whiteIn pictures: S Carolina votes Mr Edwards talked to voters at a restaurant in Mount Pleasant and called into a polling station.
He told reporters he would remain in the race no matter how he did in Saturday's vote, the Associated Press reports.He told reporters he would remain in the race no matter how he did in Saturday's vote, the Associated Press reports.
The battle between the two leading candidates has shown a touch of real nastiness, the BBC's Kevin Connolly adds.The battle between the two leading candidates has shown a touch of real nastiness, the BBC's Kevin Connolly adds.
Mr Obama accused Mrs Clinton of saying anything to get elected, after earlier accusing her husband Bill Clinton of making false statements about him.Mr Obama accused Mrs Clinton of saying anything to get elected, after earlier accusing her husband Bill Clinton of making false statements about him.
For her part, Mrs Clinton accused Mr Obama of never taking responsibility for any vote he cast.For her part, Mrs Clinton accused Mr Obama of never taking responsibility for any vote he cast.
Correspondents say both parties' contests for the presidential nomination are so close that they could continue for weeks after Super Tuesday this year.Correspondents say both parties' contests for the presidential nomination are so close that they could continue for weeks after Super Tuesday this year.
Once the candidate for each party has been selected, they will compete head-to-head to win the presidential election in November.Once the candidate for each party has been selected, they will compete head-to-head to win the presidential election in November.