Victories by both Barack Obama and John McCain in South Carolina’s Presidential Primaries set the stage and put them both on the path to their party’s Presidential Nominations. Now, Obama and McCain will compete directly for the Palmetto State’s Eight Electoral College votes.

The first Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of that race finds McCain leading Obama 48% to 39%. Six percent (6%) say they’d vote for a third party candidate while 7% remain undecided. The survey was conducted two nights after Obama clinched the Democratic Presidential Nomination. National polling shows Obama enjoying a bounce in the afterglow of that historic night.

McCain is supported by 78% of South Carolina Republicans and leads 44% to 24% among unaffiliated voters. Obama earns the vote from 73% of Democrats.

McCain leads by twenty-six percentage points among men but trails by eight among women.

McCain is viewed favorably by 60% of South Carolina’s likely voters. Obama earns positive reviews from 49%.

Fifty-four percent (54%) believe that, if John McCain is elected President, the U.S. is at least somewhat likely to win the war. Just 28% believe that is likely if Obama becomes our next President.

However, 62% believe that a President Obama would bring the troops home within four years. Just 42% believe a President McCain would do the same.

Just 15% say the government represents the will of the people while 71% disagree.

Fifty percent (50%) say elections are fair to voters. Eighty-two percent (82%) are confident that their votes will be accurately counted in November and that the appropriate candidates will be declared the winner.

President Bush earned 58% of the vote in South Carolina four years ago. Today, 38% say he is doing a good or an excellent job.

Governor Mark Sanford gets better reviews—54% good or excellent and 18% poor.

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