Clinton wins big in South Carolina on way to 'Super Tuesday'
US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton crushed rival Bernie Sanders at the South Carolina primary on February 27, propelling her into next week's crucial "Super Tuesday" voting in 11 states on a wave of momentum.
The rout of Sanders solidified Clinton's status as the strong front-runner to capture the party's nomination for the November 8 election in her quest to become America's first woman president.
With nearly half of the votes counted in South Carolina, Clinton led Sanders by a 50-point margin, dramatically reversing her 28-point loss in the state to President Barack Obama during their bitter 2008 primary battle.
The former secretary of state's victory decisively 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.
After the win, Clinton appeared to be looking ahead to a general-election matchup with Republican front-runner Donald Trump, the billionaire whose campaign slogan is "Make America Great Again" and has called for building a wall on the border with Mexico.
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The result was Clinton's third victory in the first four Democratic contests, and raised more questions about whether Sanders, the democratic socialist US senator from Vermont, will be able to expand his support beyond his base of predominantly white liberals.
“Today you sent a message,” Clinton said. “In America, when we stand together, there is no barrier too big to break.”
Sanders admitted defeat early in the night.
