COLUMBIA, S.C – South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson tonight released the following statement on the results of the South Carolina Democrat Presidential Primary: “It was no surprise to see Democrat primary voters in South Carolina today settle for Illinois Senator Barack Obama. Although Senator Obama is one of history’s most inexperienced presidential candidates, his opponent Senator Hillary Clinton abandoned her liberal candidacy here because our voters have never backed a Clinton – and John Edwards was too out of touch and too negative to defend his 2004 win on his own home turf. “Tonight, I am more confident than ever our Party’s nominee for president will be overwhelmingly supported in South Carolina no matter who wins over the liberal Democrat primary base.”