Hillary Clinton wins South Carolina primary with ease

United States Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has won the South Carolina primary over rival Bernie Sanders, propelling her into next week’s crucial “Super Tuesday” voting in 11 states on a wave of momentum.

With almost all of the votes counted on Saturday night, Clinton was easily winning with more than 73 percent.

“To South Carolina, to the volunteers at the heart of our campaign, to the supporters who power it: thank you,” Clinton tweeted after major US networks all called the vote in her favour at the close of polls.

Huge cheers broke out at the venue in Columbia, South Carolina, where Clinton was due to deliver a victory speech to supporters.

“It’s time, it’s time, it’s time for a woman in the White House,” the crowd chanted.

To South Carolina, to the volunteers at the heart of our campaign, to the supporters who power it: thank you. -H pic.twitter.com/JFTUZ2yBxf

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) February 28, 2016

Sanders immediately congratulated his rival, while vowing to fight on for the party’s presidential nomination.
“This campaign is just beginning,” he said in a statement.

“We won a decisive victory in New Hampshire. She won a decisive victory in South Carolina. Now it’s on to Super Tuesday.”

Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett, reporting from Columbia, South Carolina, said that Clinton’s win “offers a tremendous psychological and political victory” ahead of Tuesday’s contests.

“Sanders says he is not giving up…but he is struggling to prove that he is a viable candidate,” she said.

The win was Clinton’s third victory in the first four Democratic contests, and solidified her status as the strong frontrunner to capture the party’s nomination for the November 8 presidential election.

The former secretary of state’s victory also established her strength among black voters, a crucial Democratic constituency who make up more than half of the party’s primary electorate in South Carolina.

The result raised more questions about whether Sanders, the democratic socialist US senator from Vermont, will be able to compete away from his home base of Northeastern liberals.