2008 Woodie Awards
Obama wins big over Clinton, Edwards
John Sweeney
Issue date: 2/4/08 Section: Election 2008
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama won South Carolina's Democratic primary recently by a large margin.
Obama took home 55 percent of the votes, while New York Sen. Hillary Clinton received 27 percent. Native South Carolinian and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards received 18 percent of the votes during the Jan. 26 elections.
After thanking voters and his wife for their continued support, Obama spoke to critics who said his campaign would never reach this level.
"There were those who doubted this country's desire for something new, who said Iowa was a fluke not to be repeated again," Obama said during his victory speech. "Well, tonight, the cynics who believed that what began in the snows of Iowa was just an illusion were told a different story by the good people of South Carolina."
Different from previous primaries, the winner was declared early in the evening.
By 7:30 p.m., many major news outlets reported that Obama had won. This was quite a departure from the tightly-contested races in New Hampshire and Nevada.
Obama reinforced his theme of change, incorporating the idea with the diversity of his campaign and message.
"You can see it in the faces here tonight," Obama said. "There are young and old, rich and poor. They are black and white, Latino and Asian and Native American... They are Democrats from Des Moines and Independents from Concord and, yes, Republicans from rural Nevada.
"And we've got young people all across this country who have never had a reason to participate until now."
Obama also addressed the Feb. 5 "Super Tuesday" primaries, when 22 states will hold their primary contests.
He said he hopes the results of Iowa and South Carolina are a sign of things to come.
"In nine short days, nearly half the nation will have the chance to join us in saying that we are tired of business as usual in Washington," Obama said. "We are hungry for change, and we are ready to believe again."
Obama took home 55 percent of the votes, while New York Sen. Hillary Clinton received 27 percent. Native South Carolinian and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards received 18 percent of the votes during the Jan. 26 elections.
After thanking voters and his wife for their continued support, Obama spoke to critics who said his campaign would never reach this level.
"There were those who doubted this country's desire for something new, who said Iowa was a fluke not to be repeated again," Obama said during his victory speech. "Well, tonight, the cynics who believed that what began in the snows of Iowa was just an illusion were told a different story by the good people of South Carolina."
Different from previous primaries, the winner was declared early in the evening.
By 7:30 p.m., many major news outlets reported that Obama had won. This was quite a departure from the tightly-contested races in New Hampshire and Nevada.
Obama reinforced his theme of change, incorporating the idea with the diversity of his campaign and message.
"You can see it in the faces here tonight," Obama said. "There are young and old, rich and poor. They are black and white, Latino and Asian and Native American... They are Democrats from Des Moines and Independents from Concord and, yes, Republicans from rural Nevada.
"And we've got young people all across this country who have never had a reason to participate until now."
Obama also addressed the Feb. 5 "Super Tuesday" primaries, when 22 states will hold their primary contests.
He said he hopes the results of Iowa and South Carolina are a sign of things to come.
"In nine short days, nearly half the nation will have the chance to join us in saying that we are tired of business as usual in Washington," Obama said. "We are hungry for change, and we are ready to believe again."
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