U.S. Sen. McCain confidently strode onto the stage in Charleston Saturday night as the crowd chanted, \u201cMac is back!\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
South Carolina may have dashed his presidential hopes in 2000, but this time, the Arizona maverick successfully edged out a jumbled field of competitors in the first-in-the South primary.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt took us a while, but what\u2019s eight years among friends?\u201d\u009d McCain told the cheering crowd at The Citadel. \u201cIt just gave us the opportunity to spend more time in this beautiful state, to talk with you and listen to you, and to come to admire all the more the deep patriotism of South Carolinians, who have sacrificed so much to defend our country from its enemies.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
Exit polling showed that veterans, independents and older voters powered McCain past former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n Update<\/b>: The county by county voting totals are fascinating and may be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n