Obama at his South Carolina victory party. Photo by Newsweek
Sen. Barack Obama claimed a significant victory in the South Carolina Democratic primary on Saturday, CNN reported.
The Illinois senator earned more than twice the vote that rival Sen. Hillary Clinton did, 55% to 27%, unofficial returns showed.
Former Sen. John Edwards was third with 18%.
"Tonight, the cynics who believed that what began in the snows of Iowa was just an illusion were told a different story by the good people of South Carolina," Obama said to supporters Saturday.
A win in South Carolina was considered crucial for Obama, who won Iowa but finished second to Clinton in New Hampshire and Nevada.