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Polls close in S Carolina primary Obama projected to win S Carolina
(20 minutes later)
Votes are now being counted in South Carolina, where Democratic Party supporters 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.
Voting in the primary election has been brisk, with some officials predicting a record turnout. US media projections based on exit polls indicate Hillary Clinton has beaten John Edwards into third place.
Early projections based on exit polls give Barack Obama a win over Hillary Clinton, with John Edwards third. Early analysis suggests Mr Obama took a big share 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 voters formed at polling stations in South Carolina, amid chilly, overcast weather. On Saturday morning long queues of Democratic Party supporters formed at polling stations in South Carolina, amid chilly, overcast weather.
It was thought more than 300,000 people might express their preference before polls closed at 1900 local time (0000 GMT). 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.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 Some officials have predicted record turnout in South Carolina
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. 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.
If that proves to be the case, it would hand a psychological boost to Mr Obama before Super Tuesday, our correspondent says. Mrs Clinton spent part of the week campaigning outside South Carolina, signalling that she was 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 suggested he would struggle to make an impact 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
All three candidates made last-minute appearances in the state as polling was under way.All three candidates made last-minute appearances in the state 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.
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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7208577.stm">Battle not black and white class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7210997.stm">In 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.