US Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has won the South Carolina primary over rival Bernie Sanders. Drawing overwhelming support from the African-American voters, she has won her first resounding victory of the 2016 campaign. The initial counting suggests that Ms Clinton has secured over 73 per cent votes, while Mr Sanders has won just 26 per cent votes.
Earlier, major Television networks CNN, MSNBC and Fox News suggested a large victory for Ms Clinton as soon as voting closed. This win propels her into next week’s crucial “Super Tuesday” voting in 11 states on a wave of momentum. The win solidified Clinton’s status as the strong front-runner to capture the party’s nomination for the 8th November election in her quest to become America’s first woman President. Sanders admitted his defeat in a statement last night.
The Democratic race now becomes a broader national contest. Eleven states, including six in the South with large minority populations where polls show Clinton with big leads, will vote on Super Tuesday and four more over the next weekend.
The former US Secretary of State in a tweet thanked her volunteers and supporters for their supports for the win.