Young Illinois Senator Barack Obama is drawing young people and first time voters in their droves as he bids to be the country’s first black president, while his Democratic rival former first lady Hillary Clinton is winning the backing of older, more experienced women voters.

And the figures are astonishing. In South Carolina about 532,000 people cast ballots in the state’s Democratic primaries, compared to 300,000 last time round in 2004, with about 446,000 voters turning out on the Republican side.

The results in the traditionally conservative state which leans towards the Republicans have caused a ripple among Democrats, with some believing it could be up for grabs in November for the first time in more than three decades.

Early states New Hampshire and Iowa also set records at the beginning of January. In Florida, where the primaries were almost pointless since the state has been stripped of its delegates to the party convention, 1.7 million people voted on the Democratic side.

“It is so close, that the voters think their vote matters so they are turning out,” said Eric Davis, professor at Middlebury College.

“And I think there’s a real desire on the Democratic side to get rid of the Republicans.”

Clinton and Obama are now locked in a straight two-horse race for the Democratic Party nomination after John Edwards pulled out on Wednesday.

On the Republican side, Arizona Senator John McCain seems to be well ahead of his nearest rival former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney as the two parties brace for Super Tuesday when some two dozen primaries will be held.

Whether the record primary turnouts will be repeated in the actual November elections, remains to be seen and will depend on a variety of factors including who wins the nominations, analysts say.

“If Obama is the Democratic candidate, then I think turnout will be very high,” said Davis, predicting it could reach some 60 percent or more.

“But if it’s Clinton, then that could energize the Republicans to prevent her winning, although the Democrats might not be as enthusiastic.”

Kohut agreed, saying: “Clinton gets the Republicans edgy. There is an emotional response to her that’s been observed among Republicans.”

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