Obama promises change

 

When Obama came out to speak, it was insane. People stood the whole time, cheered and chanted.

 

“Change will not be easy, it will take time and there will be setbacks and mistakes,” Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., said. In the presidential candidate’s South Carolina victory speech, he spoke of change and overcoming a racial divide.

 

“Some said Iowa was a fluke, but told different story by the people of South Carolina,” Obama said. “In nine days we have the chance to say we are tired of business as usual.” Obama also discussed his plans concerning healthcare and mortgage.

 

 

Jared Countess, 23, a student at the University of Maryland and resident of Baltimore, said he followed Obama on the campaign trail because he believes Obama is the only person who means what comes out of his mouth. He had been down here since Tuesday and now “wanted to show his love.”

 

Pam Jessell, 20, a student at the University of Virginia, said she is impressed with Obama’s ability to bring people together.

“I love that he’s a uniter,” Jessell said.

 

She said it was hard to get pumped about candidates.

 

“You can like them, but its hard to get excited about them. People get excited about Obama,” Jessell said.

 

Jennifer Warburg, 19, also a student at the University of Virginia, said Obama is like a fairytale.

 

 

Man Blake, 64, a retired Texas A&M teacher, said “he’s flat out the future.”

Your voice will be heard

Supporters cheered and applauded as Edwards gave a speech after Barack Obama won the South Carolina Democratic primary.

“Our campaign, from the very beginning, has been about one central thing, and that is to give a voice to millions of Americans without avoice in this democracy,” Edwards said.

Throughout his speech, Edwards said, “your voice will be heard throughout this campaign” and gave several examples.

“If you’re worried about being able to pay for your child to go to college or paying for books, your voice will be heard in this campaign,”Edwards said.

Leon Howard, the represenative from the South Carolina black caucas, said at the end of the day, everyone can rely on John Edwards.

“Edwards has not forgotten about rural South Carolina,” Howard said. “We’re proud that Edwards pushed the issue of poverty to theforefront.”

Jim Clyburn, a South Carolina representative, said this race is far from over.” I can assure you our next president will be John Edwards,” Clyburn said.

Party all the time

Hildie Lindsey, a Columbia resident, said she has been an Edwards supporter for a couple years and she’s worked on his campaign.

“I came tonight because I wanted to see him,” Lindsey said. “We’ve been working on his campaign pretty hard so I wanted to party withhis other supporters. I think he’s going to go all the way in the primaries.”

Sway Calloway from MTV News is there also.

–Halley Nani

More numbers…

77 percent of precincts reporting.

Obama: 212,091 votes, 54 percent

Clinton: 106,527, 27 percent

Edwards: 73,092, 19 percent

Kucinich: 425 votes

We’re just waiting for Obama to speak.

did hillary win?

You would have thought Clinton won tonight.

The atmosphere here is completely different than when it started. It’s more lively. It seems everyone here has some sort of alcoholic beverage in their hand and many are getting nervous around me.

Clinton’s campaign staff refused to comment.

The staff began screaming and throwing themselves in front of the cameras with campaign signs, and now people have started dancing.

Lee Johnson, 45, of Silver Springs, MD said the results weren’t a great loss.

“I’m surprised that they called it that early, but I don’t feel it mattered,” Johnson said.
Ben Belton, 31, of Washington D.C., wasn’t discouraged by the loss either.

“It would have been wonderful if we had won, but we didn’t,” Belton said. “I’m focused on Feb. 5. We’re moving ahead past this loss.”

-Sean Gruber

And it’s pretty much all over

52 percent of precincts reporting.Obama: 141,006 votes, 54 percent

Clinton: 69,873, 27 percent

Edwards: 48,007, 19 percent

Kucinich: 292 votes

We’re waiting to hear from Obama at the Convention Center. Looks like it’ll be an early night for us.

Still counting part deux

35 percent of precincts reporting.

Obama: 102,377 votes, 54 percent

Clinton: 50,383, 27 percent

Edwards: 34,950, 19 percent

Kucinich: 215 votes

experience sells with voters

Cal Crepagnier, a student from the University of Virginia, said Clinton was the best candidate for her 35 years of experience and stance on the economy. He said he thought Obama was very naive with foreign policy.

Crepagnier also said Edwards is disconnected from the average voter.

“He should just drop out,” Crepagnier said.

After finding out the democratic primary was called for Obama, he said winning South Carolina wasn’t on Clinton’s agenda.

“It was expected,” Crepagnier said.

Marta Cook, also a student from the University of Virginia, said Clinton was had the most experience and was “playing to win.”

“She’s not catering to anyone, she’s trying to do what’s best for the country,” Cook said. She said Obama won South Carolina by making promises to a couple thousand people in the state, but Clinton is trying to help the entire country.

She said she understood that Obama is a very exciting candidate, but personally wans’t going to “roll the dice” and take a chance with him.

“We did that with George Bush. Look where that got us,” Cook said. “Hillary as of right now is a sure bet.”

-Sean Gruber

Southerners Support Edwards

Hundreds of supporters rally for Edwards, as they sit around chatting, eating, and drinking.Sam Martin, the Newberry county dean for theDemocratic party, said he voted for Edwards.”He’s the only Democratic candidate that can win Southern states in the election,” Martin said. “Obama and Clinton could not carry Southern states in a widepresidential election.”Martin said he thinks this campaign is over and that Edwards ran four years too early.-Halley Nani 

Hillary hears the fat lady…

Hillary Clinton’s concession statement:

“I have called Senator Obama to congratulate him and wish him well.

“Thank you to the people of South Carolina who voted today and welcomed me into their homes over the last year. Your stories will stay with me well beyond this campaign and I am grateful for the support so many of you gave to me.

“We now turn our attention to the millions of Americans who will make their voices heard in Florida and the twenty-two states as well as American Samoa who will vote on February 5th.

“In the days ahead, I’ll work to give voice to those who are working harder than ever to be heard. For those who have lost their job or their home or their health care, I will focus on the solutions needed to move this country forward. That’s what this election is about. It’s about our country, our hopes and dreams. Our families and our future.”

Anticipation Mounts

There are tons of people here, chanting and cheering for Barack Obama, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. CNN is on while a band is playing off and on.-Katie Jones 

Still counting…

13 percent of precincts reporting.

Obama: 35,342 votes, 53 percent

Clinton: 19,381, 28 percent

Edwards: 13,595, 19 percent

Kucinich: 75 votes

It’s only a matter of time

The crowd has gotten pretty big now and the bar is almost full.

People were cheering and whooping for political analysts on CNN that said Clinton still had a strong base of supporters and this was not the end of the campaign.

Rev. John Fowler and South Carolina State Sen. Darrell Jackson shared a message from Clinton, whom they had just spoke with on the phone. She wanted to thank all of her volunteers for their hard work.

“Hillary would represent a positive change,” Fowler said.

Jackson also showed hope for Clinton’s presidential nomination.

“We will win this nomination and restore respect to the presidency,” Jackson said.

Most people in the crowd think Clinton has the nomination wrapped up and it’s only a matter of time.

- Sean Gruber

Edwards Struggles

Bobby George, a Columbia-resident said he liked Edwards, although he is not faring very well.

“I think he has a consistent message. I also liked his demeanor during the debates,” George said. “I guess he has until Super Tuesday, but if you don’t win in your home state you’ve got problems.”

-Halley Nani, reporting on John Edwards at Jillian’s on 800 Gervais St.

By the Votes

As of 7:31 p.m. with less than 1 percent reporting:

Obama with 58 percent

Clinton with 29 percent

Edwards with 13 percent

A quiet party

The atmosphere is a lot more subdued than I expected.

A crowd of about 50 primarily middle-aged, white people are sitting down at tables talking amongst themselves.

Looking around, I think there are actually more journalists here than there are supporters.

- Sean Gruber, Hillary Clinton Election Night Party

CNN calls it, too

Check it out here.

Didn’t the polls just close?

But the Associated Press already called it. More below

Obama wins South Carolina in racially charged primary
By DAVID ESPO

Barack Obama routed Hillary Rodham Clinton in the racially-charged South Carolina primary Saturday night, regaining campaign momentum in the prelude to a Feb. 5 coast-to-coast competition for more than 1,600 Democratic National Convention delegates.

Former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina was running third, a sharp setback in the state where he was born and scored a primary victory in his first presidential campaign four years ago.

The Associated Press made its call based on surveys of voters as they left the polls.

About half the voters were black, according to polling place interviews, and four out of five supported Obama. Black women turned out in particularly large numbers. Clinton and Edwards each won roughly 40 percent of the white vote, with about 25 percent going to Obama, the first-term Illinois senator.

The victory was Obama’s first since he won the kick-off Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3. Clinton, a New York senator and former first lady, scored an upset in the New Hampshire primary a few days later. They split the Nevada caucuses, she winning the turnout race, he gaining a one-delegate margin. In a historic race, she hopes to become the first woman to occupy the White House, and Obama is the strongest black contender in history.

Smooth Operator

So it looks like everything went smoothly for this election. The South Carolina Election Commission has reported no problems with the electronic voting machines that wreaked havoc last week.

About 38,000 people were issued absentee ballots for this primary, 16,000 more than for the Republican primary last week.

Many counties are also reporting heavier turnout today.

“This level of combined voter participation in these presidential primaries is very encouraging,” said Marci Andino, executive director of the South Carolina Election Commission, in a news release. “This speaks well to the interest of South Carolina voters in this year’s presidential election process.”

Additionally,” Andino said, “all reports indicate that the voting process is running smoothly.”

Polling places will remain open throughout the state until 7:00 p.m.

Unofficial results and estimated turnout will be available this evening at www.scvotes.org .

Primary Watch Parties

With the polls coming to a close, Democratic presidential candidates’ campaigns are awaiting results. Here are locations and times for primary-watch parties in the Columbia area.

Sen. Hillary Clinton Election Night Party: Element at 700B Gervais St., 6 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Sen. Barack Obama Watch Party: Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center at 1101 Lincoln St., 7:30 p.m.

John Edwards Watch Party: Jillian’s at 800 Gervais St., 7 p.m.

The Huck concedes

Ed Neuhaus, a first-year broadcast student, said he was disappointed Huckabee did not win.
“Considering how far back Huckabee was a few months ago, he’s made progress,” he said. “I’m hoping he does better in upcoming primaries.”

Once he took the stage, Huckabee thanked everyone. Former governor David Beasley and Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer were in attendance.

“I called McCain and offered him congratulations and told him I would rather have him calling me to  congratulate me,” he said.

Huckabee said he was appreciative that McCain ran a campaign with civility but had hoped for a different outcome.

“We got awful close,” he said. “This is not an event; it’s a process. The process is far far from over.”

Romney camp still strong

People are starting to filter out and its more relaxed and quiet than it was about an hour ago.

Nathan Balentine, a graduate of USC in ‘92, wasn’t upset about the McCain victory.

“McCain had to win S.C. like Romney had to win Michigan. Its now a question of who has the right message for America,” Balentine said.

Ben Ginsford, a Columbia resident and volunteer with the Romney campaign, said the race was expected to be a close one.

“From our perspective South Carolina was a death match between McCain and Huckabee. We won in Nevada and we are strong going into Florida,” Ginsford said.

Terry Sullivan, a Columbia resident, said Romney is still doing well nationally.

“McCain’s win gives him a few more delegates but Romney still has more.”

-Halley Nani

Don’t count Paul out

Ron Paul supporters weren’t expecting to take South Carolina by storm.

Matt Kneece, president of Gamecocks for Ron Paul and a second-year political science student, said that McCain’s victory in SC wouldn’t affect Paul’s chances in the elections adversely.

He said Ron Paul got second place in Nevada, which has more delegates than SC, and there are still more states to go.

The next primary of consequence will be Florida, Kneece said.

“We think we have a chance there,” he said. Paul has beaten Giuliani in every primary so far and national polls have been inconsistent.

“So it’s too early to count him out yet.”

–Sean Gruber

This guy knows money

Some Romney supporters favor the candidate for his stance on the economy.

Steven Munoz, a first-year business administration student at The Citadel, said he started supporting Romney over a year ago.

“Its not about social issues for me. It’s about the experience. Romney has the know how on how to change things,” Munoz said. “We need someone who needs to know what to talk about in terms of money. And this guy definitely knows money.”

Munoz is hopeful Romney’s nomination chances don’t end tonight.

“I think Romney will win the Republican nomination. The race will run through Feb. 5; it won’t end in South Carolina like most years,” Munoz said.

-Halley Nani

More McCain

McCain wins South Carolina
By DAVID ESPO
The Associated Press

Sen. John McCain won a hard-fought South Carolina primary Saturday night, avenging a bitter personal defeat in a bastion of conservatism and gaining ground in an unpredictable race for the Republican presidential nomination.

“We’ve got a long way to go,” McCain told The Associated Press in an interview. He quickly predicted that his victory in the first southern primary would help him next week when Florida votes, and again on Feb. 5 when more than two dozen states hold primaries and caucuses.

McCain defeated former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in a close race in the state that snuffed out his presidential hopes eight years ago. The Arizonan was gaining 33 percent of the vote to just under 30 percent for his closest rival.

“It just took us a while. That’s all. Eight years is not a long time,” McCain told the AP.

Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson was in a struggle for third place with about 16 percent, after saying he needed a strong showing to sustain his candidacy. Another Republican, California Rep. Duncan Hunter, dropped out even before the votes were tallied.

Interviews with South Carolina voters leaving their polling places indicated that McCain, an Arizona senator, and Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor, were dividing the Republican vote evenly. As was his custom, McCain was winning the votes of self-described independents.

South Carolina was the second half of a campaign double-header for Republicans.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney cruised to victory earlier in the day in the little-contested Nevada caucuses.

No matter the state, the economy was the top issue in all three races on the ballot.

Ron Paul speaks

Ron Paul gave a speech that focused heavily on the economy.

When he was introduced Thomas Paine’s Common Sense was quoted. They like to compare the campaign to the American Revolution or revolution in general.

Paul brought his son and granddaughters with him on stage while giving his speech.
In his economic-focused speech, Paul called for returning the “sound economic theory of our forefathers.”

He said he would call back troops out of Iraq, quit funding an empire overseas and bring troops back to defend the border.

He hasn’t talked heavily on winning the election, as much as he has getting his ideas out and “lighting a fire.”

“They will not be able to silence this freedom movement,” Paul said.

Kelvin Colloins, 19, of West Columbia, said the reason he supports Paul was because he wants to bring government back to its constitutional limits.

“That makes him different from any other candidate,” Colloins said. “He’s the only one that will be able to get us through the next few years.”

Tyler Price, a second-year electrical engineering student, said he’s voting for
Paul because of his views on the economy and his views on Iraq.

Price also said that in order for Paul to do well voter participation is a big thing.

“Particularly the youth vote is important. Its going to take a younger generation to actually bring change,” Price said.

-Sean Gruber

im in ur voting machine, hanging ur chads

Huckabee’s closing the gap on everyone’s favorite former Vietnam POW, but it’s too late.  I’m reminded of this year’s Border Showdown.  Fox News and MSNBC have just called it for McCain, with 83 percent of the vote being reported.   Here’s how CNN’s reporting it:

Race	Status	Candidate	Votes	Vote %	Del*	Precincts
South Carolina		McCain	121,958	33%	0	83% reporting
		Huckabee	107,953	30%	0
		Thompson	58,439	16%	0
		Romney	55,558	15%	0
		Paul	13,267	4%	0
		Giuliani	7,631	2%	0
		Hunter	886	0%

McCain’s loss here in 2000 might have cost him the nomination, but there will be no such speed bump this time.

-Michael Baumann

John McCain takes it

The Associated Press calls it for McCain.

So does MSN.

And Fox.

And The State.

It’s not over yet

Signs have been passed out and chants of “Huckabee” and “I like Mike” ring out.

Patrick Jarvis, 23, said he didn’t think a second place position will last the night.

“Several Huckabee votes haven’t come in yet. I wouldn’t be terribly upset with second place but I’m hoping for first,” Jarvis said.

He said he had wanted to hear Huckabee speak for a while because he does so well in interviews and debates.

Wright Culpepper, an epidemiology and bio-statistics graduate student, also said a lot more Huckabee votes were expected in.

“The Lowcountry votes are in but we haven’t gotten to the Upstate. We’re a long way from over. I’m still hopeful and very much so. If there wasn’t hope I would have gone home,” Culpepper said.

No one has been on the stage for most of the night except for the two men from Maryland invited to play their songs.

-Katie Jones

We’re halfway there

The race has more or less stabilized as the night wears on.  MSNBC says that Huckabee-friendly greater Greenville is among the areas still unreported.  With 50 percent of the vote in, here’s where we stand:

Race		Candidate	Votes	Vote %	Del*	Precincts
South Carolina Updated 1 minute ago County Results Exit Poll		McCain	75,559	33%	0	51% reporting
		Huckabee	66,718	30%	0
		Thompson	36,893	16%	0
		Romney	33,735	15%	0
		Paul	8,479	4%	0
		Giuliani	4,476	2%	0
		Hunter	535	0%	0

Source: CNN.com