Snowy, rainy day for South Carolina primaries

Associated Press - January 19, 2008 2:13 PM ET

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Voters are facing several obstacles en route to the polls in the state's Republican primary, including rain, snow and a few voting machine problems.

In one coastal county, an official says some voters had to use paper ballots because some electronic machines were not properly tested. He says technicians have been working on the problem. He could not immediately confirm a report that some precincts were turning people away because they'd run out of paper ballots.

Polling officials around the state are reporting that turnout in some areas was heavy early because of forecasts for bad weather ahead. Political experts have said rain or snow may deter undecided voters from trekking to the polls.

Presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee says he's worried the weather could put a damper on turnout in the more conservative upstate regions.

Senator John McCain is hoping to appeal to the state's large population of military veterans, and is stressing his determination to rein in federal spending.

Mitt Romney has focused more on Nevada, where he has won today's GOP caucuses.

Rudy Giuliani is skipping South Carolina, maintaining his focus on Florida, the first of the big states to vote, with a winner-take-all primary at the end of the month.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.