Politics / Barack Obama Obama Grabs Double-Digit Lead in SC Barack out in front 42% to 25%; race a key factor in contest By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff Posted Jan 23, 2008 4:36 AM CST Copied Democratic presidential hopefuls Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., listens as Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks during a Democratic presidential debate in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Monday, Jan. 21, 2008. (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain) (Associated Press) Presidential hopeful Barack Obama holds a 42% to 25% lead over Hillary Clinton in the upcoming South Carolina primary, finds a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released today. Race looks to be a key factor, with African-Americans, who made up just over half the poll sample, favoring Obama over Clinton 65% to 16%. Among whites, Clinton and John Edwards are nearly tied with 33% and 32%, while Obama trails at 18%. "Obama is doing very well among African-Americans, but getting a decent share of the white vote in a three-way race," commented a pollster. Most of the polling was done before Monday night's ill-tempered debate, when Edwards urged Clinton and Obama to stop squabbling. Preliminary polling done after the debate showed Edwards had made some slight gains. (More Barack Obama stories.) Report an error