Obama, Thompson First In South Carolina

Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama and Republican Fred Thompson were the frontrunners in South Carolina's first-in-the-South 2008 presidential primary, according to a fresh poll.

The survey by the Mason-Dixon polling firm found that African-American support had pushed Obama ahead of Senator Hillary Clinton, giving him the support of 34 percent of likely voters against 25 percent for Clinton.

Former Senator John Edwards of North Carolina was third at 12 percent, while 24 percent of respondents were undecided.

Blacks in South Carolina, who could make up more than half of the party's primary voters, favored Obama over Clinton 41 percent to 18 percent, with about one-third of black voters in the state undecided.

In South Carolina's Republican nomination contest, Thompson -- a popular television actor and former Tennessee senator who has not yet formally entered the presidential race -- polled 25 percent. Former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani was second with 21 percent.
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney was third with 11 percent, followed by Senator John McCain at seven percent. Twenty-eight percent of likely Republican voters were undecided.

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