Barack Obama surges to first in South Carolina

Senator Barack Obama rocketed into first place according to an Insider Advantage poll with 34 percent of those polled favoring him. Hillary Clinton was second with 20 percent and John Edwards, a South Carolina native, was at 17 percent.

The telephone poll surveyed 500 registered Democratic voters from April 6-8.

South Carolina is one of four early primary states, the others being Iowa, Nevada and New Hampshire.

However in a few weeks, Louisiana may have the earliest test of all if it conducts a "beauty contest" during its Nov. 14 poll this year.

The non-binding poll may be approved during a legislative session this month. In theory, if approved the delegates could decide to follow these results rather than those of the official primary in February 2008. The Louisiana test results could effect what happens in the other four early primary states.