The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in South Carolina shows Barack Obama continuing to hold a double digit-lead over Hillary Clinton in the January 26th Primary Election. The survey, conducted the night after Clinton’s stunning victory in New Hampshire, shows no bounce for the victor. In fact, there is virtually no change in the numbers at all. It’s Obama 42% Clinton 30%. John Edwards attracts 15% of the vote, Bill Richardson picked up 2% and 10% were not sure. Richardson has since dropped out of the race for the White House.

These results are virtually identical to a pre-New Hampshire survey conducted over the weekend. and nobody else tops 3%. In December, Obama and Clinton were tied at 33%. In November, Clinton had a ten-point advantage.

Nationally, Clinton and Obama are now very close in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.

On the Republican side of the aisle, John McCain received a significant bounce from his victory in New Hampshire and now holds a narrow lead in South Carolina’s GOP Primary.

Eighty-one percent (81%) have a favorable opinion of Obama, 77% say the same about Clinton, and 72% offer a positive assessment of Edwards. Those figures include 51% with a Very Favorable assessment of Obama. Forty-two percent (42%) are that positive about Clinton and 26% say the same about Edwards.

Fifty-four percent (54%) of South Carolina’s Likely Democratic Primary Voters view Clinton as politically moderate. Forty-five percent (45%) say the same about Edwards and 42% hold that view of Obama.

Thirty-two percent (32%) see Obama as politically liberal while just 24% say that about Clinton.

Rasmussen Markets data suggests that Barack Obama is currently favored to win in South Carolina. Current prices imply that Obama has a % chance of winning while Clinton has a % chance. Numbers in this paragraph reflect results from a prediction market, not a poll. RasmussenMarkets.com is a “futures market” that harnesses competitive passions to becomes a reliable leading indicator of upcoming events. Using a trading format where traders "buy and sell" candidates, issues, and news features, the markets correctly projected both Obama and Huckabee as the winners in Iowa.

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