News > Politics Wednesday, Jan 9, 2008

Results fuel S.C. contests
By Robert Morris -

The Sun News Two comeback victories in the New Hampshire primaries Tuesday injected uncertainty into the national nominating contests that will now fuel the ever-increasing competition in South Carolina. "A perfect political storm is brewing," said Katon Dawson, chairman of the state Republican Party. "Here it comes."

The energy that so many campaigns feel in the race to secure their party's nomination was on display Tuesday at two small primary-watching parties in Horry County.

About two dozen Hillary Clinton supporters gathered amid balloons and signs at Wild Wing Cafe in North Myrtle Beach. (That would be my local campaign group and me! :-)

When the first news report showed Clinton two points above rival Barack Obama with only 9 percent of New Hampshire precincts reporting, a cheer went up. As Clinton's lead grew with each update, the cheers grew louder.

"I would have been satisfied with second after what happened in Iowa," said Horry for Hillary organizer Cynthia McNeil, referring to Clinton's second-place finish last week