Democrats in South Carolina Choose Hillary Clinton Over Bernie Sanders

The Associated Press reports that “Black voters powered Clinton to victory” in South Carolina’s Democratic primary, “with eight in 10 voting for her.”

Hillary Clinton sailed to a commanding victory over Bernie Sanders in Saturday’s South Carolina primary, drawing overwhelming support from the state’s black Democrats and putting her in strong position as the race barrels toward Super Tuesday’s crucial contests.

Clinton’s win provided an important boost for her campaign — and a moment to wipe away bitter memories of her loss to Barack Obama in South Carolina eight years ago.

“To South Carolina, to the volunteers at the heart of our campaign, to the supporters who power it: thank you,” Clinton wrote on Twitter. At a campaign victory party in Columbia, supporters broke into raucous cheers as the race was called in Clinton’s favor.

Exit polls indicate that Clinton also won most women and voters 30 and older. Read more here.

Sanders was on his way from Texas to Minnesota when the results were announced. Here’s his response to the results, via The Guardian:

I congratulate Secretary Clinton on her victory in South Carolina.

I am very proud of the campaign we ran. I am grateful for the grassroots supporters who took on the political establishment and stood up for working families. I appreciate the many friendships that Jane and I have forged with people across South Carolina, where I was all but unknown when this campaign began 10 months ago. I will always be especially thankful for the courageous support of state representatives Terry Alexander, Justin Bamberg, Joe Neal, Wendell Gilliard, Cesar McKnight, Robert Williams and former Democratic Party chairman Dick Harpootlian.

Let me be clear on one thing tonight. This campaign is just beginning. We won a decisive victory in New Hampshire. She won a decisive victory in South Carolina. Now it’s on to Super Tuesday. In just three days, Democrats in 11 states will pick 10 times more pledged delegates on one day than were selected in the four early states so far in this campaign. Our grassroots political revolution is growing state by state, and we won’t stop now.

When we come together, and don’t let people like Donald Trump try to divide us, we can create an economy that works for all of us and not just the top 1%.

—Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.