Small blessings.

The home folks still love him...

Edwards won Oconee County on Saturday, handily defeating Hillary Clinton and primary winner Barack Obama, who finished third there. Edwards was born in the Oconee town of Seneca.

Since you asked...

Buckarooskidoo's got questions...

First, I wonder if it is true, as pundits suggest, that the Clintons have succeeded in defining Obama as the "African-American" candidate in the race and somehow marginalized him?

Since you asked, no. As it turns out, Barack Obama's been an African American candidate all along. The Clinton's had nothing to do with it. They weren't even the first to notice.

Second, maybe basic tribalism kicked in again here. I think you could say women were outraged in New Hampshire by the admittedly misogynist coverage of Hillary Clinton in the media after Iowa...Could it be that we've seen the same reaction among African-Americans re some of the punches the Clintons and their surrogates threw at Barack Obama?

Maybe. I'd say probably, except that it's more likely that those African American folks who noticed Barack was one of 'em are just naturally pretty, ahem, fired up about voting him. Same folks voted for Jesse. Attacks? I figure they figure that's bound to happen. Might make voting for him seem just a bit more righteous, though.

And if the latter interpretation is on the mark, can we now move beyond race and gender and get some serious discussion of where the two leading contenders stand on the key issues, namely the ones Tomcat reiterates all the time on politics plus--the ones that never seem to get asked in the lust for horserace gossip?

Umm, no. I don't suppose so.

Of course, the third candidate talks about 'em all the time.

I didn't make a prediction...

…for South Carolina, and now there's enough counted to consider it done. No surprises. Actually, if I had published a prediction here, I probably would have come closer than usual. My best wild guess was around a 50-30-20 split, Obama on top, Edwards trailing. Here's CNN's latest (96% reporting)...

Obama 55% 15 delegates
Clinton 27% 6 delegates
Edwards 18% 5 delegates

Actually, with one of the most heavily African American Democratic electorates in the country and women making up over 60% of the turnout as identity politics have taken center stage in the debate, five delegates for the white guy isn't really bad at all. Another shutout, especially in SC would have been crippling, but I think Edwards can take some encouragement from the result. Obama deserves congratulations for securing his base and running an effective field operation. Hillary takes a little momentum hit, I suppose, but I don't think she was counting on South Carolina to put her over the top.

Now it's gonna get real interesting...

More delegates apportioned with 99% reporting...

Obama 25
Clinton 12
Edwards 8

Nice haul for Obama, no doubt.

Good news from the House of Labor…

…via JohnEdwards.com.

The Communications Workers of America in South Carolina today announced its endorsement of Senator John Edwards for president. The Communications Workers of America represents both active and retired members throughout the state of South Carolina.

Why is John Edwards still running? Lots of reasons, I suppose, but a big one is because people want him to. People like the South Carolina Communications Workers. People like me. People that are keeping him in the running, if against the odds.

Heh™.

Dan Savage, behind enemy lines...

But here's what I found really interesting about the Huckabee supporters I met in South Carolina: Over and over again Huckabee supporters told me - on the record, cameras rolling - that they supported Huckabee because they wanted to see "a good, Christian man in the White House." Because... uh... just look at the pickle all those Buddhists, Atheists, agnostics, Sikhs, and Zoroastrians presidents have gotten us into.

Headlines.

Odds are growing for economic recession

At least, that's how to bet whatever's left.

Iran agrees to give answers on nukes

Aw, they're no fun. They fall right over.

SC primaries could be pivotal for both parties

Yep. Or not, of course.