In quotes: South Carolina primary result

Here is a round-up of reaction to results of the Democratic primary in the state of South Carolina, won by Senator Barack Obama.

BARACK OBAMA, ILLINOIS SENATOR

You know, over two weeks ago we saw the people of Iowa proclaim that our time for change has come. But there were those who doubted this country's desire for something new, who said Iowa was a fluke, not to be repeated again. 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...

...there are real differences between the candidates. We are looking for more than just a change of party in the White House. We're looking to fundamentally change the status quo in Washington.

HILLARY CLINTON, NEW YORK SENATOR

I want to congratulate Senator Obama tonight and I want to also thank the people of South Carolina for welcoming us into their homes and their communities. And I want to tell you how excited I am that now the eyes of the country turn to Tennessee and the other states that'll be voting on 5 February and, of course, to the state of Florida that will be voting on Tuesday.

So millions and millions of Americans are going to have the chance to have their voices heard and their votes counted, and I can't imagine anyplace I'd rather be than right here in Nashville as we kick off the next 10 days.

JOHN EDWARDS, FORMER SENATOR

I want to join Senator Clinton and President Clinton in congratulating Senator Obama. Now, the three of us move on to 5 February where millions of Americans will cast their vote and help shape the future of this party and help shape the future of America.

Our campaign from the very beginning has been about one central thing and that is to give voice to millions of Americans who have absolutely no voice in this democracy...

JIM CLYBURN, DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE, SOUTH CAROLINA

I think those people that were campaigning, drawing attention to this man's race and trying to get him off message, I think those people were rejected tonight.

CHARLESTON POST AND COURIER

Most every pundit predicted that Illinois Senator Barack Obama would win South Carolina's primary, but no one guessed that he would get twice as many votes as his nearest rival.

Obama's crushing and historic victory Saturday now thrusts him into Feb. 5, when more than 20 states will vote, with a gale-force wind at his back.

NEW YORK TIMES ANALYSIS

Senator Barack Obama proved in South Carolina on Saturday that he could not only endure everything the Clinton campaign threw at him in the most confrontational week of the presidential contest so far but also draw votes across racial lines even in a Southern state.

Still, his victory came in part because Mr Obama was able to turn out large numbers of black voters, a dynamic that will not necessarily prove as decisive in the 22 states that hold nominating contests on 5 February.

WASHINGTON POST ANALYSIS

The focus of the coverage is likely to be on Obama's 80+ % showing among black voters. But it's worth noting that not only did he win one in every four white voters, according to exit polls, but he ran almost dead even with Hillary Clinton among white males (29% for Clinton, 27% for Obama).

Obama's dominance of the black vote in South Carolina is a remarkable accomplishment. But looking ahead to the Super Tuesday states, black voters will not be as dominant.

DAVID PAUL KUHN, POLITICO.COM

It's the demographics, stupid: The black candidate won the black vote. The white woman won white women. The white man won white men.

Iowa, where Senator Barack Obama of Illinois won women and whites, seems a world away.

The Democratic coalition now seems to be split by little more than the colour and gender of its voters. It has been decades since the political left has faced such crass intraparty demographic divides.