One of the surprises in New Hampshire’s Presidential Primary a few weeks ago was the pleasant weather. Who would have expected 60 degree temperatures in New England on January 8? Today’s weather in South Carolina may be equally surprising—up to 3 inches of snow is forecast in the portions of the state for the first in the South Primary. Heavy rain is expected throughout the rest of the state.

The weather may be significant as John McCain and Mike Huckabee each try to score their second victory of the season. The final Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of the race showed John McCain and Mike Huckabee tied at 24%. Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson are battling for third.

Perhaps the most significant finding of the survey was that, as of Wednesday night, 41% of voters indicated that they might change their mind. That includes 7% who have not decided on anyone, 10% who said there’s a good chance they could change their mind, and another 24% who said they could change their mind. Such uncertainty just three days before an election is extraordinary.

Many pundits have noted that the leading candidates are appealing to specific aspects of the Reagan coalition—McCain to national security conservatives, Huckabee to social conservatives, and Romney to economic conservatives. In South Carolina’s Republican Presidential Primary there is plenty of overlap between those groups—72% of Likely Primary Voters consider themselves to be national security conservatives, 67% are economic conservatives, and 66% describe themselves as social conservatives.

There is tremendous unity on one of the signature issues of the Reagan era—75% of South Carolina’s Likely Republican Primary Voters believe that tax cuts are generally good for the economy. Just 10% disagree. Eighty-six percent (86%) of Romney’s supporters believe tax cuts help. Seventy-one percent (71%) of Huckabee’s voters say the same along with 66% of McCain voters.

On Saturday morning, Rasmussen Markets data showed that McCain and Huckabee were given roughly equal chances of winning in South Carolina. Current market pricing shows that McCain is given a % of winning today’s Primary while Huckabee has a % chance. Numbers in this paragraph reflect results from a prediction market, not a poll. Using a trading format where traders "buy and sell" candidates, issues, and news features, RasmussenMarkets.com harnesses competitive passions to becomes a reliable leading indicator of upcoming events.

The results in South Carolina will help set the stage for Florida’s Presidential Primary on January 29. The latest Rasmussen Reports poll in the Sunshine State shows a four-way tie for the lead. Even more important, just 45% of Sunshine State voters are “certain” they will vote for the candidate they currently support.

As results come in, the Rasmussen Markets will give the first indication of how South Carolina’s results will impact the prospects for Florida and beyond. Rasmussen Markets data is updated continuously on a 24/7 basis.

Nationally, in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll, Huckabee, McCain, and Romney are in the lead.