Obama routs in SC: 55-27-18

Over a year ago, I threw my financial and rhetorical support behind Obama. He routed the competition last night: 55-27-18. Pundits who want to label him the "black candidate" will have to deal with some very inconvenient facts:

Here in South Carolina, Mrs. Clinton was supported by about 3 in 10 women over all, the exit polls showed, hampering a candidacy that is depending on female support to win states. She received support from 4 in 10 white women and 2 in 10 black women. She had competed aggressively for their vote, particularly African-Americans to offset Mr. Obama’s advantages.

White voters under the age of 40 divided their support, with almost 40 percent for Mr. Obama, and about 3 in 10 each for Mr. Edwards and Mrs. Clinton. Almost 80 percent of blacks under the age of 40 voted for Mr. Obama.

Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Edwards divided white voters age 40 and older equally, with about 40 percent each, according to exit polls. Among older blacks, 80 percent supported Mr. Obama.

Basically, the older white voters went for Hillary and Edwards. These are people who were raised in a Segregated South, so I'm not surprised. I just hope that Obama can survive the Clinton machine that is getting dirtier and dirtier as we move on. He has promised to transcend bitter politics, so it is difficult for him to respond to attacks without seeming to attack himself. I think he's balancing this act very well. Vote Obama '08!