| Republican voters in South Carolina are casting ballots | | | | In his campaign, he appealed to religious opposition to |
| in the party's presidential primary. In Greenville, VOA's | | | | gay marriage, saying, if elected, he would lead |
| Brian Wagner reports the outcome may signal a clear | | | | efforts to amend the constitution to define marriage |
| lead among the field's top three candidates. | | | | as between a man and a woman. |
| After early primaries and caucuses in the Republican | | | | "The fundamental unit of any government is family |
| race for the presidential nomination, no clear leader | | | | and strong marriages, and without that the rest of |
| has emerged from the field of candidates. | | | | society begins to fall apart," he said. |
| Senator John McCain, former Arkansas Governor | | | | Mitt Romney campaigned briefly this week in South |
| Mike Huckabee, and former Massachusetts Governor | | | | Carolina before flying to Nevada for the Republican |
| Mitt Romney have each claimed at least one victory | | | | caucus there. |
| so far. A win in South Carolina could provide needed | | | | Former Senator Fred Thompson has been trailing the |
| momentum in upcoming primaries. | | | | leading candidates so far, but hopes to make a |
| McCain has emphasized his military experience during | | | | strong showing in South Carolina, which is next to his |
| the campaign in South Carolina, home to many active | | | | home state of Tennessee. |
| and retired military personnel. | | | | Thompson has tried to separate himself from the |
| At a campaign stop Friday, the Arizona senator | | | | other candidates by claiming he has the toughest |
| addressed fears of an economic recession, saying | | | | policies to fight illegal immigration. During a rally on |
| what he called "out of control" government spending | | | | Friday, he told supporters that controlling immigration |
| is part of the problem. | | | | is a key component of national security. |
| "Stop the spending. If we don't stop the spending, it | | | | "Part of that national security issue involves our own |
| is all going to go out the door," he said. | | | | borders," he said. "A nation that cannot secure its |
| Huckabee, a Baptist minister, is expected to win | | | | own borders will not remain a sovereign nation, and |
| support among the state's many Christian voters. | | | | we need to understand that. |