Snapshot of South
Carolina: Obama, Clinton Race Tight

With 45 delegates at stake in the Democratic South Carolina primary on Saturday, January 26, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama are tied in several polls, while one has Clinton ahead.

The latest Rasmussen Reports poll in South Carolina released on January 14 shows Obama with 38% of the vote, Clinton 33%, and John Edwards at 17%. Rasmussen writes: "While Obama's lead has slipped, his support is more solid than Clinton's at this point in time. Eighty-two percent (82%) of Obama supporters say they are "certain" they will vote for him on January 26. Just 67% of Clinton voters are that 'certain' along with 65% of those currently supporting Edwards."

As for the state's Republican primary (to be held Saturday, January 19) John McCain took the lead in one poll taken the day after his New Hampshire primary victory. Mike Huckabee placed second in that Fox News survey, which followed earlier polls that had the former Arkansas governor either in front or, in one poll, tied with Rudy Giuliani.

At stake are 24 GOP delegates. The national party stripped 23 delegates from South Carolina because the state broke party rules when it moved its primary before February 5.

In 2004, George W. Bush won the state with 53% of the vote in the presidential election. (AP, with additional reporting by The Advocate)