Barack Obama has regained a double-digit lead over Hillary Clinton in South Carolina’s Democratic Presidential Primary.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in South Carolina shows Obama earning 44% of the vote, Clinton attracting 31%, and John Edwards at 15%. This is the third poll out of four conducted in recent weeks showing Obama with either a 12 or 13 percentage point lead. However, last weekend, Clinton had closed the gap to five percentage points. At that time, Rasmussen Reports noted that her support was less solid than Obama’s.

It is unclear whether Clinton gained ground as the result of a bounce from her New Hampshire victory or if the apparent gains were merely statistical noise caused by movement within the margin of sampling error.

What is clear is that Obama is increasing his support among African-American voters who make up roughly half of Democratic Primary Voters in South Carolina. Obama now leads Clinton 64% to 20% among African-Americans in the Palmetto State. This is similar to the racial divide found in national polling.

Obama’s 44-point advantage among African-Americans is nearly double his 23-point edge in the previous survey. Clinton now leads Obama 44% to 20% among white voters in the state with John Edwards picking up 26% of that vote.

By a 43% to 31% margin, African-American primary voters say that most Americans are racist. By a 57% to 22% margin, white primary voters in South Carolina disagree.

Forty-one percent (41%) of Democratic Primary Voters consider the economy their most important voting issue. Twenty-three percent (23%) say it’s the War in Iraq while 11% name health care.

When it comes to the economy, Democratic Primary voters are divided on the impact of tax cuts—39% say they help the economy while 32% say they hurt.

In December, Obama and Clinton were tied in South Carolina at 33%. In November, Clinton had a ten-point advantage.

In South Carolina’s GOP Primary, the race is much closer between John McCain and Mike Huckabee.

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