Hillary Clinton has landslide victory in South Carolina primary before Super Tuesday

HILLARY Clinton has crushed Bernie Sanders in her first landslide victory in the US primaries, paving the way for success on Super Tuesday. Here’s our form guide.

US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton addresses a primary night rally in Columbia, South Carolina, on February 27, 2016. Clinton defeated Bernie Sanders by an overwhelming margin in the Democratic primary in South Carolina, projections showed, seizing momentum ahead of the most important day of the nomination race: next week's "Super Tuesday" contests. / AFP / Nicholas Kamm

HILLARY Clinton has won her first landslide victory in the US primaries contest, paving the way for success on Super Tuesday and calling into question the longevity of challenger Bernie Sanders.

Ms Clinton crushed Mr Sanders in the South Carolina poll last night, defeating him with 73.5 per cent of the vote to his marginal 26.

It was the victory the Clinton camp needed after losing to Mr Sanders in New Hampshire and only narrowly defeating him in other contests.

The fresh momentum could signal a turning point in her campaign and set up an eventual presidential show down with real estate mogul Donald Trump who is leading the Republican race.

Ms Clinton resoundingly captured the backing of black voters in South Carolina at a rate of 87 per cent, according to exit polls — a support base her camp has long laid claim to but that remained untested until last night.

Hillary Clinton defeated Bernie Sanders by an overwhelming margin in the Democratic primary in South Carolina. Picture: AFP/Nicholas Kamm

Support among black voters is a key indicator moving into Super Tuesday — the biggest voting day of the primaries schedule — where a slew of delegate-rich southern states mirroring the South Carolina demographic makeup will vote.

Ms Clinton also won over the state’s women — a demographic she has previously struggled with — although Mr Sanders remained the favourite with young voters under 25.

Claiming victory, Ms Clinton signalled a confidence she would claim the Democratic nomination by targeting Trump: “Despite what you hear, we don’t need to make America great again,” Ms Clinton said. “America has never stopped being great.”

Despite Ms Sanders benefiting from a surge in popularity though January, Ms Clinton is racking up a clear lead in the delegate count.

Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders appears to be losing pace. Picture: Stephen Maturen/Getty/AFP

After her win in South Carolina, Ms Clinton had 544 delegates to Mr Sanders’s 85.

As well as her three wins, much of Ms Clinton’s support comes from “super delegates” who are not tied to the primaries contests but can choose to align with either candidate.

A candidate needs 2383 delegates to claim the Democratic nomination for president, with 875 delegates available to be won on Super Tuesday.

Ms Clinton looks likely to claim large victories in the southern Super Tuesday states like Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee and Arkansas.

Mr Sanders will likely be able to count on his home state of Vermont, and will hope to do better in states with less black voters like Massachsetts and Minnesota.

These states, however, offer less delegates for Mr Sanders to count towards his quest to claim the nomination.

In a jab at Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton told her supporters ‘America never stopped being great’. Picture: AFP/Michael B. Thomas

The support from black America is a reversal on Ms Clinton’s fortunes in 2008, when she lost South Carolina and indeed the black vote to Barack Obama.

However, her support for his presidency has played well to the large demographic who could help carry the former Secretary of State to the White House.

SUPER TUESDAY FORM GUIDE

Democrats: Clinton V Sanders

Delegates so far: Clinton: 544 Sanders: 85

At stake on Super Tuesday: 875

Delegates needed to win the nomination: 2383

State to watch: Colorado. Sanders will try to defeat Clinton here, trying to prove he is electable in America’s west and should remain the game as the contest heads to this part of the country post Super Tuesday.

Who’s in the hunt: Hillary Clinton goes into the race the favourite after a big win in South Carolina. The demographics of the Super Tuesday states will play to her strengths.

Bernie Sanders is fighting to prove his popularity in early states can translate to the rest of the country. Unlikely to compete well against Ms Clinton with black voters, Mr Sanders will try to win smaller states in the north and west to prove he’s still a contender.

An excited Hillary Clinton greets her supporters in South Carolina. Picture: AP/Gerald Herbert

Republicans: Donald Trump V Marco Rubio V Ted Cruz V John Kasich V Ben Carson

Delegates so far: Trump: 82, Cruz: 17, Rubio: 16, Kasich: 6, Carson: 4.

At stake on Super Tuesday: 661

Delegates needed to win the nomination: 1237

State to watch: Texas. It’s got the biggest delegate count and is Ted Cruz’s home turf. The challenger is ahead here and it’s one place he could rattle Mr Trump. Texas allocates delegates proportionally, unless the winner receives 50 per cent of the vote in which case they claim all the delegates.

Who’s in the hunt: Donald Trump is the favourite with the Super Tuesday states mirroring demographics he’s already commanded. He’s polling ahead in most states and a loss would be an upset.

Ted Cruz is in a tight fight for second place. He stands a good chance of winning Texas, his home state and the one with the biggest delegate count this competition. Delegates are still awarded proportionally.

Marco Rubio. Picture: Scott Olson/Getty/AFP

Ted Cruz. Picture: Steve Helber/AP

Marco Rubio is also in a fight for second place, and will be aiming to poll above 20 per cent in all the states. Rubio is holding out in the hope of winning his first contest in his delegate-rich home state of Florida, which doesn’t vote until March 15.

John Kasich doesn’t expect to win any states, but is hoping to hold on with a decent showing and wants to win Michigan on March 8.

Ben Carson is under pressure to drop his presidential bid and will likely do so after Super Tuesday if he again finishes bottom of the pack in the southern states that should be his strength.

How it works

All states operate on a proportional distribution of delegates based on the vote received, although the models of distribution vary widely.

In most states, contenders need to poll above either 15 or 20 per cent to claim any delegates.

In some states, if a winner takes more than 50 per cent of the vote, they claim all the delegates.

After Super Tuesday, the race heats up with contests turning to winner-takes-all states, allowing candidates to quickly build a lead that can’t be caught.