U.S. Presidential candidate Barack Obama trounced rivals Hillary Clinton and John Edwards in the Democratic primaries in South Carolina.

Obama got 55% of the votes while Hillary secured 27% and Edwards 18%.

Following his decisive victory in South Carolina, Obama said:

Tonight, the cynics that said what began in the snows of Iowa was just an illusion were told a different story by the good people of South Carolina. After four great contests in every corner of this country, we have the most votes, the most delegates and the most diverse coalition of Americans we’ve seen in a long, long time.

Smart South Carolina voters gave Hillary and her husband former President Bill Clinton, who campaigned aggressively for her, the heave ho.

We are happy.