South Carolina Primary Facts and Figures

Compiled by the U.S.News & World Report library

Presidential Primary Winners

Democrats

• 1988 Jesse Jackson (caucus)
• 1992 Bill Clinton
• 1996 Bill Clinton (caucus)
• 2000 Al Gore (caucus)
• 2004 John Edwards

Republicans

• 1988 George H. W. Bush
• 1992 George H. W. Bush
• 1996 Bob Dole
• 2000 George W. Bush
• 2004 uncontested — George W. Bush

Source: TheGreenPapers.com

2008 General Election Voter Registration Data

Race

• White registered:  1,615,740
• Nonwhite registered:  628,193

Gender

• Male registered:  992,439
• Female registered:  1,251,494

Age

• 18-24 registered:  215,949
• 25-44 registered:  737,737
• 45-64 registered:  843,088
• 65 and Older registered:  447,644

Source: SCvotes.org

General Election Winners — 1988-2004

• 1988 George H. W. Bush
• 1992 George H. W. Bush
• 1996 Bob Dole
• 2000 George W. Bush
• 2004 George W. Bush

Exit Poll Demographics

2004 Election

Sex

• Male:  43%
• Female:  57%

Race

• White:  67%
• African-American:  30%
• Latino:  1%

Age

• 18-29:  18%
• 30-44:  29%
• 45-59:  33%
• 60 and older:  20%

• 18-64:  89%
• 65 and older:  11%

White evangelical/Born again

• Yes:  30%
• No:  70%

Source: CNN.com

3 Things You Didn't Know About South Carolina Primaries

1. The South Carolina Republican primary is the first in the South. This distinction traces back to the late political consultant Lee Atwater, who in 1980 helped get the primary scheduled early to help his candidate, Ronald Reagan.

2. The winner of the South Carolina Republican presidential primary has gone on to win the party's nomination in every election since 1980.

3. South Carolina voters don't register their party and can vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary.

Sources:
SCFRW.org
GWU.edu
CountyofUnion.com