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| Democrats vote in South Carolina | Democrats vote in South Carolina |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Democratic Party supporters in South Carolina have been taking their opportunity to influence the contest between US presidential hopefuls. | Democratic Party supporters in South Carolina have been taking their opportunity to influence the contest between US presidential hopefuls. |
| Voting has been brisk, with some officials predicting a record turnout. | Voting has been brisk, with some officials predicting a record turnout. |
| Barack Obama has a comfortable lead in the opinion polls ahead of Hillary Clinton, with John Edwards third. | Barack Obama has a comfortable lead in the opinion polls ahead of Hillary Clinton, with John Edwards third. |
| This is the final primary for the Democrats before Super Tuesday in 10 days' time, when more than 20 states will vote in primary contests. | |
| Republicans have already held their primary in South Carolina, and are now campaigning for their next contest in Florida on Tuesday. | Republicans have already held their primary in South Carolina, and are now campaigning for their next contest in Florida on Tuesday. |
| On Saturday morning long queues of voters formed at polling stations in South Carolina, amid chilly, overcast weather. | On Saturday morning long queues of voters formed at polling stations in South Carolina, amid chilly, overcast weather. |
| It is thought more than 300,000 people may express their preference before polls close at 1900 local time (0000 GMT). | It is thought more than 300,000 people may express their preference before polls close at 1900 local time (0000 GMT). |
| Psychological boost | Psychological boost |
| It is the Democrats' first primary in the South of the US, where black voters are likely to play a big role. | It is the Democrats' first primary in the South of the US, where black voters are likely to play a big role. |
| Edwards won in 2004 but is not expected to repeat the feat | Edwards won in 2004 but is not expected to repeat the feat |
| It is generally calculated that most of South Carolina's large African American community - which makes up around half of the Democratic vote - is behind Mr Obama, and that Mrs Clinton will finish some distance behind, says the BBC's Kevin Connolly. | It is generally calculated that most of South Carolina's large African American community - which makes up around half of the Democratic vote - is behind Mr Obama, and that Mrs Clinton will finish some distance behind, says the BBC's Kevin Connolly. |
| If that proves to be the case, it would hand a psychological boost to Mr Obama before Super Tuesday, our correspondent says. | If that proves to be the case, it would hand a psychological boost to Mr Obama before Super Tuesday, our correspondent says. |
| Mrs Clinton has spent part of the week campaigning outside South Carolina, signalling that she is not expecting to win there. | Mrs Clinton has spent part of the week campaigning outside South Carolina, signalling that she is 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 suggest he will not win this time. | 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 suggest he will not win this time. |
| 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 | 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 |
| The battle between the two leading candidates has shown a touch of real nastiness, our correspondent adds. | The battle between the two leading candidates has shown a touch of real nastiness, our correspondent 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 told Mr Obama it was hard to debate with someone who never took responsibility for any vote he cast. | For her part, Mrs Clinton told Mr Obama it was hard to debate with someone who never took responsibility for any vote he cast. |
| On Thursday, the New York Times formally endorsed Mrs Clinton as its preferred Democratic candidate for the White House. | On Thursday, the New York Times formally endorsed Mrs Clinton as its preferred Democratic candidate for the White House. |
| It said it was hugely impressed by Mrs Clinton's knowledge, the force of her intellect and her experience. | It said it was hugely impressed by Mrs Clinton's knowledge, the force of her intellect and her experience. |
| "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," it said in an editorial. | "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," it said in an editorial. |
| But it added: "'Firstness' is not a reason to choose." | But it added: "'Firstness' is not a reason to choose." |