Politics betting: Race for US President

US presidential hopeful Barack Obama secured a decisive win in the South Carolina primary election and remains 7/4 to win the Democratic Presidential nomination. The Illinois senator beat off his main rival, Hillary Clinton by 55% to 27%, with John Edwards third on 18%.

Click here for £10 free from Ladbrokes to bet on politics with Ladbrokes 

The Illinois senator is 3/1 for the top job with bookmaker Ladbrokes, whilst Hillary Clinton is evens for the White House and 4/9 to get the nod from her party. 

The South Carolina result was as a boost for Obama's campaign ahead of Super Tuesday on 5 February, when 24 states go to the polls for who they want to run for US president.

"The choice in this election is not about regions or religions or genders," Obama said. "It's not about rich versus poor, young versus old and it is not about black versus white. This election is about the past versus the future."

Obama referred to his victory in the first contest in the Iowa caucuses, by saying that the faith that the Democratic voters had shown in him then had now been borne out in the result in South Carolina.

"Tonight the cynics who believed that what began in the snows of Iowa was an illusion were told a different story. "

Looking ahead to Super Tuesday, he continued: "In nine short days, nearly half the nation will have the chance to join us in saying that we are tired of business as usual in Washington, we are hungry for change, and we are ready to believe again."

Voting in South Carolina produced a record turn-out of more than 530,000. By comparison, the turn-out for the 2004 Democratic primary was 280,000. Once the candidate for each party has been selected, they will compete head-to-head to win the presidential election in November.

Ladbrokes spokesman, Nick Weinberg, said: "We expected Obama to win South Carolina and even closed our book early. But the bigger tests are still to come."

John McCain has shortened to 10/11, from 13/8, to win this week's Florida primary, whilst Mitt Romney has eased to 10/11, from 4/7.

Weinberg added: "McCain's campaign has been given a timely shot in the arm by the endorsement by Florida's governor."

The 71-year-old is now 4/5, from evens, to win the Republican candidature. Former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani, 8/1 from 6/1, continues to fall out of favour with punters.

LATEST LADBROKES BETTING

Who'll be elected president in 2008: Hillary Clinton evens; Barack Obama 3/1; John McCain 4/1; Mitt Romney 6/1; Rudolph Giuliani 14/1; Michael Bloomberg 16/1; Mike Huckabee 25/1; John Edwards 100/1; Ron Paul         100/1        

Democratic candidature: Hillary Clinton 4/9; Barack Obama 7/4; John Edwards 100/1        

Republican candidature: John McCain 4/5; Mitt Romney 6/4; Rudolph Giuliani 8/1; Mike Huckabee 12/1; Ron Paul 66/1

Click here for £10 free from Ladbrokes to bet on politics with Ladbrokes