SC Primary weather: ballots and bumpershoots

by Lisa Anderson

In the sunny land of “Smiling Faces, Beautiful Places,” ice and snow are unwelcome strangers. But it looks like the red-hot Republican primary battle for South Carolina will end in an unusual icy mix of sleet, snow and heavy rain predicted to inundate most of the state today.

This throws a wild card into the best-laid plans of voters and candidates alike. In a state heavy with retirees, older people are among the most reliable primary voters. Many of them either have little or no experience driving in the snow or may be fearful to get behind the wheel to drive to the polling station.

Especially in the northwestern part of the state, an evangelical stronghold where up to three inches of snow could fall today, the miserable weather may hamper turnout. This could be crucial to the fortunes of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Baptist minister who rode evangelical support to victory in the Iowa caucuses and is counting on those same supporters to propel him to a win here tonight. That could help the campaign of Arizona Sen. John McCain, who is in a death struggle with Huckabee for dominance in the race.