Obama Blow Out in South Carolina

And there are some really interesting breakdowns on demographics. The big news, however, is that Bill Clinton's campaigning apparently had a negative effect on Hillary Clinton's candidacy. My faith in the Democratic Party electorate is restored--Republican-style tactics apparently can backfire:

Roughly 6 in 10 South Carolina Democratic primary voters said Bill Clinton's campaigning was important in how they ultimately decided to vote, and of those voters, 48 percent went for Barack Obama while only 37 percent went for Hillary Clinton. Fourteen percent of those voters voted for John Edwards

Meanwhile, the exit polls also indicate Obama easily beat Clinton among those voters who decided in the last three days — when news reports heavily covered the former president's heightened criticisms of Obama. Twenty percent of South Carolina Democrats made their decision in the last three days and 51 percent of them chose Obama, while only 21 percent picked Clinton.

Which kind of makes sense. Tactics that depress turnout and reduce trust in government benefit the party that represents the elite who are trying to reduce the role of government. Ergo, Republican tactics don't automatically transfer to Democratic success. In addition to which, race-baiting when a significant portion of your base is African American is just plain stupid.

And all of this is lovely news, from my perspective, even if Obama ultimately loses the nomination.

Wow, I spoke too soon. Race baiting appears to be alive and well. The cynicism is breathtaking, truly.