Obama Defeats Romney, Congressional Incumbents Win Easily

Barack Obama was re-elected to a second term as 44th President of the United States on Tuesday. Obama defeated former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney by 332-206 in the Electoral College and by 1.7 million total votes, 56.7 to 55.

Obama captured every state he won in 2008 except for Indiana and North Carolina. South Carolina easily went to Romney, one of the first states to go into his column.

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All six of South Carolina's Congressmen won re-election. Tim Scott (R-1), Jeff Duncan (R-3), Trey Gowdy (R-4) all won with 60 percent (or more) of the vote. Joe Wilson (R-2) and James Clyburn (D-6) ran unopposed. Mick Mulvaney (R-2) won his race over Joyce Knott 55-45 percent.

The first occupant of the seat for House District 7 will be Tom Rice (R), who defeated Gloria Tinubu by a count of 55-45 percent.

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The statewide ballot initiative to amend the constitution was on its way to passing. Starting in 2018 the Governor and Lieutenent will run on the same ticket. With seven counties yet to report, the "Yes" vote led 55.69 percent to 44.31.

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Gov. Nikki Haley had endorsed five candidates in this cycle and went 3-2. In Senate 23, Katrina Shealy was about to defeat incumbent Jake Knotts. And in Senate 2 in Pickens County Larry Martin defeated Rex Rice. In Senate 28, Greg Hembree beat his opponent by more than thity percentage points.

Toney Barwick in Senate 35 and DeeDee Vaughters in Senate 26 did not fare as well. Both lost by double digits.

Haley's biggest enorsement was, of course, Mitt Romney.