Obama scores big win in S.C. over his rivals

Clinton places a distant 2nd; Edwards trails in 3rd place

— Barack Obama routed Hillary Rodham Clinton in the racially charged South Carolina primary Saturday night, regaining campaign momentum in the prelude to next week's coast-to-coast competition for more than 1,600 Democratic convention delegates.

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

With most of the votes counted, Obama led Clinton 55 percent to 27 percent.

The first-term senator from Illinois contended his overwhelming victory disproved notions that Democratic voters are deeply divided along racial lines. "We have the most votes, the most delegates, and the most diverse coalition of Americans we've seen in a long, long time," the Illinois senator told joyful supporters.

For more information see today's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Subscribers can read the story here on ArkansasOnline.

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