Analysis: Big Obama win could spell trouble for Clinton

Exit polls, voting patterns and early returns in South Carolina’s Democratic primary not only show that Sen. Barack Obama is winning the state in a landslide, but the results could also spell trouble for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) as the race moves toward the crucial Feb. 5 contests.

{mosads}The South Carolina results, which mirror those of the Michigan primary among black voters, indicate that Clinton is running with a detrimental deficit among that core Democratic constituency. African-American voters were believed to be a strength for the wife of a president once referred to by the poet Toni Morrison as “the first black president.”

What was clear, despite the candidates’ efforts to downplay it, is that race was very much a factor in the Saturday night vote.

Obama’s overwhelming victory — with exit polls showing that 81 percent of black voters went his way — is a huge boon heading into Super Tuesday as the Illinois senator again proved to reluctant, if not skeptical, voters that he can stand toe to toe with more experienced, battle-hardened politicians and go the distance.

By winning the first-in-the-South primary, Obama proved two things: First, he has successfully made his case with black voters and he has also shown that he can take on one of the most successful political teams of all time and win.

For Clinton, the results must be troubling – at best.

The South Carolina exit polls show for the second time this year that Clinton is having trouble connecting to black voters. In the Michigan primary, late results showed Clinton losing to “uncommitted” in predominantly black Detroit by a heavy margin, according to Michigan sources.

In a race filled with nasty accusations and perhaps more vitriol than expected, the former president’s harsh words and spontaneous outbursts toward the media have clearly not rallied voters toward Clinton as they might have in New Hampshire where the former first lady scored a key win.

Clinton, however, made clear earlier this week that she was looking toward Super Tuesday and past South Carolina as there are still many states left to vote and the delegate count has only just begun. The senator underscored that point by attending an event in Nashville, Tenn, Saturday night as the results from South Carolina were still filtering in.

Despite the Clinton campaign’s efforts to downplay the decisive results in South Carolina, the senator did experience a massive defeat.

However, the Palmetto State’s primary only sets the stage as both campaigns gear up for Super Tuesday.

Neither candidate is prepared to throw in the towel as 22 states are set to vote on Feb. 5, but Obama’s win in South Carolina clearly gives him a bump heading into that crucial round.