Results here... 82% reporting... McCain: 33...Huck: 29.. ...Thompson: 16...Romney: 15...
** More from exits, courtesy of CBS News: McCain, Huckabee tie for self-ID'd Republicans; McCain wins independents...Huckabee wins native-born South Carolinians...and evangelicals (41 to 28)....
***Thompson prepares to exit race...."While we're waiting, I wanted to come hear and speak to you from my heart...to tell you how much I appreciate you and how Jeri and I are blessed to have friends like you... I want to thank Jeri, who's been my strong right arm...We will always be bound by a close bond, because we have traveled a very special road together for a very special purpose. It's never been about me. It's never even been about you. It's been about our country...Our country needs our party to step up...but we need to remember that we need to deserve to lead...Federalism underpins everything we do"
Rudy starts his contrasts, per CBS's Ryan Corsaro: "“I supported the Bush tax cuts. John McCain voted with the Democrats against the Bush tax cuts -- twice. And Mitt Romney did not, clearly, support the Bush tax cuts.”
**CNN reports: Duncan Hunter exits...
Some Exits:
** Evangelical breakdown: 53% to 47% (via MSNBC)
More:
** 19% of participants are independents...
** 25% are veterans....
More, from CBS News.....economy is the most important issue (41%) followed by illegal immigration...(26%)...issues more important than qualities...
A savvy analyst: "It looks like many white swing voters in SC may be waiting for next Saturday to vote. GOP voters comprise 79% of turnout today, up 18% from 2000."
**CNN reports: Duncan Hunter exits...
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Hello, Marc-
These link from The State newspaper (SC) sheds some light on what was going on in Horry County earlier today. It appears that Horry County is one where McCain needed to do extremely well today. In 2000, McCain defeated GWB there by a resounding 53%-44% margin, despite being defeated easily statewide. So I can understand why the McCain campaign would be very unhappy, if there were difficulties in getting a big turnout out of Horry County...
Links: - the text quote and statistical info below is from The State's interactive map, which I found very beneficial...
http://www.thestate.com/presidential-politics/story/289717.html
In addition, The State has an interactive SC primary map at this link-
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&gl=us&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=114628348347800710830.000441d140eb2233d34ec
Horry County
Last Updated by bguzior on Jan 8
The booming tourism and retirement communities of Horry have bolstered the county’s population the past decade. The county is traditionally more independent-minded than other parts of the state.
Population: 238,493
Registered voters: 127,000
Results from 2000 GOP Primary: 53 for John McCain; 44 percent for George W. Bush.
How much money given to Republicans (through 3rd quarter): $54,402
Top candidate: Mitt Romney, $30,100
Posted by ElectionNightHQ.com (McCain site) Publisher | January 19, 2008 5:07 PM