Hillary Clinton has a thirteen point advantage over Barack Obama in South Carolina’s Presidential Primary. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of the race shows Clinton with 43% of the vote while Obama is the top choice for 30% of the state’s Likely Primary Voters. A month ago, it was Clinton 38% Obama 30%.

Currently, John Edwards is a distant third at 10%. Bill Richardson, Joe Biden, and Dennis Kucinich each earn 2% of the vote while 11% are not sure.

Forty-five percent (45%) say that Clinton is the candidate of change while 34% say that label applies to Obama.

Among black voters, Clinton and Obama are even while Edwards support is virtually non-existent. However, among white voters, the picture looks entirely different--Clinton earns 48% support, Edwards 19%, and Obama 14%.

Eighty-three percent (83%) say that Clinton is at least somewhat likely to win the general election if she first wins the Democratic nomination. Fifty-nine percent (59%) have that confidence in Obama and 45% say the same about Edwards. Those figures include 43% who say Clinton is Very Likely to win the White House if nominated. Only 25% say Obama is Very Likely to win. For Edwards, that number is 11%.

Eighty-three percent (83%) have a favorable opinion of Clinton. Seventy-six percent (76%) view Obama favorably and 65% offer a positive assessment of Edwards. Those figures are little changed from a month ago.

Sixty-three percent (63%) say that Clinton will do the best job reforming health care. Nineteen percent (19%) say that Obama will be best. Nationally, voters trust Democrats more than Republicans on health care. In fact, Democrats enjoy a bigger advantage on health care than on any other issue.

Although Clinton has now extended her lead in South Carolina to double digits, Obama is more competitive here than he is in New Hampshire, Florida, or the national polls.

The Republican Presidential Primary in South Carolina is even more competitive.

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll is updated daily by noon Eastern.

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