South Carolina presidential primary
The South Carolina presidential primary has become one of several key early state nominating contests in the process of choosing nominees of the Democratic and Republican parties for the following election for President of the United States. It has historically been more important for the Republican Party. From its inception in 1980 through the election of 2000, the winner of the South Carolina Republican presidential primary has gone on to win the nomination. Opening hours for the polls are 7 am to 7 pm Eastern Standard Time.
As of 2008, the primary has cemented its place as the "First in the South" primary for both parties. The Republican presidential primary is set for January 19, 2008, with the Democratic primary following on January 26, 2008. For the Democrats, the primary takes on added significance because it is the first nominating contest in which a large percentage (perhaps 50% or greater) of primary voters will be African Americans. [1]
Republican Results
- 1980: Ronald Reagan won with 55%, defeating runner-up John Connally.
- 1984: Uncontested (Reagan was the incumbent president and was re-nominated).
- 1988: George H. W. Bush won with 49%, defeating runner-up Bob Dole.
- 1992: George H. W. Bush won with 67%, defeating runner-up Pat Buchanan.
- 1996: Bob Dole won with 45%, defeating runner-up Pat Buchanan.
- 2000: George W. Bush won with 53%, defeating runner-up John McCain.
- 2004: Uncontested (Bush was the incumbent president and was re-nominated).
- 2008: John McCain won with 33%, defeating runner-up Mike Huckabee.
Democratic Results
- 1988: Jessie Jackson won defeating Al Gore with approximately 55% of the vote.
- 1992: Bill Clinton won with approximately 69% of the vote, defeating Paul Tsongas. [2]
- 1996: Uncontested (Clinton was the incumbent president and was renominated).
- 2000: Al Gore won with 92% of the vote, defeating Bill Bradley. [3]
- 2004: John Edwards won with 45% of the vote, defeating John Kerry.[4]
- 2008: Barack Obama won, defeating Hillary Rodham Clinton and John Edwards.[5]
See also
References
External links