Voter turnout was heavy soon after polls opened at 7 a.m. (1200 GMT) under cloudy skies and chilly temperatures around much of the state, with long lines at polling places reported in early morning balloting.
Record turnout of more than 300,000 is expected in the first Democratic primary in the South, where black voters are likely to make up about half of the electorate....
After two consecutive losses, in New Hampshire and Nevada, Obama needs a win on Saturday if he hopes to head into the Feb. 5 "Super Tuesday" contests in 22 states with a realistic chance of victory....
A Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll on Saturday showed Obama with a 41 percent to 26 percent edge over Clinton in South Carolina, with Edwards in third place with 19 percent.
The lead for Obama, who would be the first black U.S president, is fueled by his 62 percent support among black voters, the poll found. Clinton and Edwards are tied among white voters at 35 percent, with Obama at 19 percent....
The Republican presidential contenders, who held their primary in South Carolina last week [McCain won], are focused on Florida's Tuesday primary.
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