2008 Woodie Awards
McCain wins S.C. GOP primary
John Sweeney
Issue date: 1/22/08 Section: Elections 2008
Eight years after suffering a campaign-ending defeat to President George W. Bush in the Republican primaries in South Carolina, Arizona Sen. John McCain won a tight primary Jan. 18, beating former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee by less than five percent of the vote.
"Thank you, South Carolina, for bringing us across the finish line first, in the first-in-the-South primary," McCain said in his victory speech. "It took us a while, but what's eight years among friends?"
McCain finished with 33 percent of the vote, Huckabee with 30 percent. Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson barley edged former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, 16 percent to 15 percent, while Texas Rep. Ron Paul, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and California Rep. Duncan Hunter all finished with less than 10 percent of the vote.
After losing in Nevada and before S.C. votes were tallied, Hunter dropped out of the race.
The primary came down to a county by county, vote scrapping electoral brawl for Huckabee and McCain. McCain, a former prisoner of war who relied heavily on South Carolina's large military population, triumphed over Huckabee's evangelical support. Thompson could have been a spoiler for Huckabee, diverting some important evangelical and conservative voters away from the former governor.
During his victory speech in Columbia, McCain thanked supporters and recalled his loss during the 2000 primary election. Chants of "Mac is back" and "U.S.A." interrupted McCain's speech from an overjoyed crowd of supporters.
Joined on stage by state Sen. Lindsey Graham, S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster and Speaker of the House Bobby Herald, as well as his wife, mother and children, McCain thanked South Carolinians for a strong campaign and their service in the military.
"It gave us the opportunity to spend more time in this wonderful state," McCain said, "And to come to admire, all the more, the deep patriotism of South Carolinians who have sacrificed so much to defend our country from its enemies."
"Thank you, South Carolina, for bringing us across the finish line first, in the first-in-the-South primary," McCain said in his victory speech. "It took us a while, but what's eight years among friends?"
McCain finished with 33 percent of the vote, Huckabee with 30 percent. Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson barley edged former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, 16 percent to 15 percent, while Texas Rep. Ron Paul, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and California Rep. Duncan Hunter all finished with less than 10 percent of the vote.
After losing in Nevada and before S.C. votes were tallied, Hunter dropped out of the race.
The primary came down to a county by county, vote scrapping electoral brawl for Huckabee and McCain. McCain, a former prisoner of war who relied heavily on South Carolina's large military population, triumphed over Huckabee's evangelical support. Thompson could have been a spoiler for Huckabee, diverting some important evangelical and conservative voters away from the former governor.
During his victory speech in Columbia, McCain thanked supporters and recalled his loss during the 2000 primary election. Chants of "Mac is back" and "U.S.A." interrupted McCain's speech from an overjoyed crowd of supporters.
Joined on stage by state Sen. Lindsey Graham, S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster and Speaker of the House Bobby Herald, as well as his wife, mother and children, McCain thanked South Carolinians for a strong campaign and their service in the military.
"It gave us the opportunity to spend more time in this wonderful state," McCain said, "And to come to admire, all the more, the deep patriotism of South Carolinians who have sacrificed so much to defend our country from its enemies."
Be the first to comment on this story