Hillary Clinton won a commanding victory over Bernie Sanders in South Carolina's Democratic primary on Saturday, boosted by a wide majority of black support.

Clinton's win here, reported by The Associated Press as the polls closed, was the latest indication that she can energize the voters that turned out passionately for Barack Obama in 2008 ahead of delegate-rich Super Tuesday.

"Tomorrow, this campaign goes national," Clinton said in a victory speech in Columbia, South Carolina. "We are going to compete for every vote in every state. We are not taking anything, and we are not taking anyone for granted."

SEE ALSO: Hillary Clinton delivered a powerful statement on racism in South Carolina

Later, Clinton took a swipe at Donald Trump, the current Republican presidential frontrunner.

"We don't need to make America great again, America has never stopped being great," she said, adding later that "instead of building walls, we need to be tearing down barriers."

Sanders was not in South Carolina as the results came in, campaigning in Texas instead.

"Let me be clear on one thing tonight. This campaign is just beginning," Sanders said in a written statement. "We won a decisive victory in New Hampshire. She won a decisive victory in South Carolina. Now it’s on to Super Tuesday."

"In just three days, Democrats in 11 states will pick 10 times more pledged delegates on one day than were selected in the four early states so far in this campaign," Sanders continued. "Our grassroots political revolution is growing state by state, and we won't stop now."

To South Carolina, to the volunteers at the heart of our campaign, to the supporters who power it: thank you. -H pic.twitter.com/JFTUZ2yBxf — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) February 28, 2016

Voting in South Carolina took place after the candidates had criss-crossed the state for weeks, with racial issues taking the spotlight. Clinton campaigned with the mothers of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner and other black men and women who were killed by gun violence or in clashes with the police. Sanders also campaigned aggressively for the black vote here, releasing a radio ad from director Spike Lee and holding campaign events with actor Danny Glover and the rapper Killer Mike.

Sanders has energized young people in his campaign, calling for breaking up big Wall Street banks and free tuition at public colleges and universities.

However, despite focusing on issues like criminal justice reform and incarceration rates, he struggled to gain traction among black voters, who make up more than half of the Democratic electorate in South Carolina.

In 2008, Clinton lost South Carolina by 28-points to Barack Obama, despite her longstanding connections to the black community. Her husband, former President Bill Clinton, was criticized during that race by black leaders for seemingly diminishing Obama's success during the campaign.

This year though, influential black lawmakers have fallen behind Clinton, including South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn, who did not endorse any candidates in 2008.

According to exit polling data reported by CNN, black voters supported Clinton in this year's primary by a 4-to-1 margin. In 2008, 78% of black voters supported Obama while 19% supported Clinton.

From South Carolina, both Clinton and Sanders head into a final sprint ahead of next Tuesday, when Democrats vote in 11 states and American Samoa. Up for grabs are 865 delegates.

Before South Carolina's primary, Clinton had just one more delegate than Sanders. However, she has scored more superdelegates, Democratic Party leaders who can vote for their preferred candidate at the party's national convention this summer, no matter how their states voted.

Republicans held their primary in South Carolina one week ago, and businessman Donald Trump won all of the state's delegates.

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