BernieHund: The Political Watchdog

Well, was anyone surprised?  The South Carolina primary results followed projections almost to the “T”.  Obama, Clinton, Edwards. 

The turn out was pretty overwhelming, with well over 1/2 million Democrats coming out in South Carolina to cast their votes.  It seems that the voters seemed to split along odd, but expected, lines.  It is clear that the African American vote was heavily cast for Obama with an estimated four out of five black voters going with the primary winner.  Clinton walked away with a most of the left over black vote and most of the women.  And, the white men threw their support behind Edwards.

If there was ever a state that would decide an election by race and gender, I suppose South Carolina would be the one.  I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with South Carolina or their voters.  Having lived there for a few years, I know the state has carried the burden of its baggage since the days of reconstruction.  With a population that now tips the scales towards African Americans, I have to admit that today in an odd sort of way I was pleased to see the black population rally behind one of their own, sensing that they have a voice and America is ready for a black president.

No one wants this race for the party’s nomination to be divisive.  But, in one way, if only in South Carolina it was a uniting race… if only for the black population.  South Carolina is a state that has been broken along racial lines for over 150 years.  All one has to do is drive through the state and look at the population distribution.  There are the poor and the rest of the state.  Unfortunately, due to the state’s economic floundering the poor have been left so far behind that it is amazing that even someone as charismatic as Barack Obama could begin to give them a voice.

As the country heads towards Super Tuesday, we are probably no closer to a nomination than we were yesterday or December 31st.  There are lots of states ahead that have delegates to distribute, but for now Obama is leading the trio into Super Tuesday.

What a good showing in South Carolina today!  Who cares what motivated the voters?  The fact is we are motivated!