OBAMA SURGING IN S.C.

The latest polling figures show Obama nearly even with Clinton in South Carolina, where a month ago she had a 10-point advantage. The gains have been most significant among African American voters, who make up 49 percent of Democratic primary voters in the state. He's now bringing in 51 percent of the black vote, while Clinton polls at 27 percent -- a month ago, the two candidates were pretty much tied. For many black voters, doubts about whether white Americans would elect a black president (seasoned, of course, by living in the United States where there's very good reason for those doubts) have kept them from getting behind Obama enthusiastically. But with his recent jump in Iowa and increased national recognition as a viable opponent to Clinton, black voters appear more convinced that they can back him.

--Kate Sheppard