December 20, 2007
Posted: 09:06 AM ET

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) — Here's a quick look at what's making news in South Carolina politics this morning:

A new CBS News poll shows a virtual tie for first place in South Carolina among likely Democratic primary voters, with Barack Obama narrowly edging Hillary Clinton by a margin of 35 percent to 34 percent. John Edwards is at 13 percent.

Among Republicans, Mike Huckabee is still on top at 28 percent, followed by Mitt Romney at 20 percent. They are followed by Rudy Giuliani (12 percent), John McCain (11 percent) and Fred Thompson (10 percent).

The poll shows one-third of Huckabee's support comes from white evangelicals and churchgoers. But Romney has an advantage on illegal immigration: most GOP primary voters say he most shares their views on the issue.

Edwards will run his fifth South Carolina television ad of the cycle starting Sunday. The 30-second spot, called "Season," is running in Iowa and New Hampshire, and it puts a holiday twist on the issue most important to Edwards in this race.

"Thirty-seven million Americans live in poverty," he says in the ad. Who speaks for them? We do. This is the season of miracles, of faith and love." Watch the ad here.

McCain's campaign will unveil their first South Carolina TV ad at 1 p.m. outside their headquarters in Columbia. Former POW Col. Jack Van Loan, USAF (Ret.), Attorney General Henry McMaster and Adjutant General Stan Spears will make the announcement.

The ad comes three days after a new McCain radio spot and a day after the campaign sent out a new piece of direct mail that takes on illegal immigration.

The "Mormon issue" still nips at Romney's heels.

Ted Sorensen, JFK's former speechwriter and a supporter of Obama, will speak at noon in Columbia on the senator's behalf.

Don Fowler, former DNC chairman under Bill Clinton and a South Carolina superdelegate, has officially endorsed Hillary Clinton.

– CNN South Carolina Producer Peter Hamby

Filed under: Extra • South Carolina


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