The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Columbia

Democrats in South Carolina began voting early Saturday in a primary election fiercely contested by the party's two leading contenders, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

Polls opened throughout the southern state at 7:00 am (1200 GMT) and were set to close 12 hours later. The 'first in the south' nominating contest is also the final contested Democratic nominating clash before February 5, "Super Tuesday" when nearly two dozen states hold contests, on a night that could play a key role in deciding this year's presidential candidates.

Expectations are highest for Obama, who desperately needs a victory after Clinton scooped up the Nevada caucuses and New Hampshire primary following his shock win in the opening Iowa caucuses on January 3.

An MSNBC/McClatchy poll Friday showed Obama leading Clinton by 38 percent to 30 percent in South Carolina, based largely on staunch backing from African Americans. Former senator John Edwards was third on 19 percent. But Obama's standing among whites in the southern state had plunged 10 percent in just one week, despite his efforts to portray himself not simply as an African-American candidate, but as someone with cross-racial appeal.