Clinton cruises to big win over Sanders in South Carolina

Former US Secretary of State and President-hopeful Hillary Clinton.

Hillary Clinton cruised to a commanding victory over Bernie Sanders in Saturday’s South Carolina primary, drawing overwhelming support from the state’s black Democrats and putting her in a strong position as the race barrels toward crucial multi-state contests on Tuesday.

Clinton’s win provided an important boost for her campaign – and a moment to wipe away bitter memories of her loss in the South Carolina primary eight years ago.

“To South Carolina, to the volunteers at the heart of our campaign, to the supporters who power it: thank you,” Clinton wrote on Twitter. At a campaign victory party in Columbia, supporters broke into raucous cheers as the race was called in Clinton’s favor.

Sanders, expecting defeat on Saturday, left the state even before voting was finished and turned his attention to some of the states that vote in next Tuesday’s delegate-rich contests. In a statement, Sanders vowed to fight on aggressively.

“This campaign is just beginning,” he said. “Our grass-roots political revolution is growing state by state, and we won’t stop now.”