South Carolina Democrats vote in presidential race

By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Reuters) - South Carolina Democrats cast votes on Saturday in a bitter presidential nominating race, with Barack Obama leading rival Hillary Clinton in polls and counting on heavy black support to carry him to a needed victory.

Voter turnout was heavy soon after polls opened at 7 a.m. (1200 GMT) under cloudy skies and chilly temperatures around much of the state, with long lines at polling places reported in early morning balloting.

Record turnout of more than 300,000 is expected in the first Democratic primary in the South, where black voters are likely to make up about half of the electorate. Polls close at 7 p.m. (2400 GMT), with results available soon afterward.

"I am absolutely convinced that we can win here, and we can win anywhere in the country," Obama, an Illinois senator, said at a late-night rally in Columbia that capped a week spent campaigning heavily across the state.

South Carolina is the latest test for Obama and Clinton, a New York senator, in their escalating battle for the right to represent the Democratic Party in November's presidential election.

After two consecutive losses, in New Hampshire and Nevada, Obama needs a win on Saturday if he hopes to head into the Feb. 5 "Super Tuesday" contests in 22 states with a realistic chance of victory.

The high stakes fueled a week of angry accusations, harsh advertisements and increasingly personal jabs between the two candidates, capped by a volley of attacks on Obama from Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton.

Obama accused the Clintons of distorting his record and angrily fired back with a radio ad charging "Hillary Clinton will say anything to get elected."