(South Carolina-AP) Feb. 4, 2004 - More than 275,000 people turned out for the Democratic presidential primary in South Carolina on Tuesday. Voters in South Carolina and six other states went to the polls to choose a candidate to face President George Bush. 

The record number more than doubled the old primary record of 114,000 voters in the 1992 Democratic contest. That record was set in 1992, however, when the primary was held late in the season after Bill Clinton had effectively won the party's nomination.

It's still much lower than the 570,000 people who voted in the Republican presidential primary in South Carolina in 2000.

State Democratic Party Chairman Joe Erwin says he's proud of his party's effort to conduct the first-in-the-South primary. State Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson says he thinks the Democrats turnout is a good indication for Republicans in November. He says the turnout shows the Democrats failed to energize most of the state's voters.

Officials had been worried that weather conditions would hurt turnout, especially in the Upstate, where icy conditions were possible overnight. But, the freezing rain ended quickly and roads were clear.

Some precincts seemed to get a slow start. By 9:00am, for instance, about 24 people had stopped by Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Newberry to vote. About 800 voters were registered to vote there.

But, by midday state party officials said their reports showed a steady turnout marked by just a few glitches. Erwin said he had no reports of low voter response and has had reports of high turnouts in Kershaw and Chesterfield Counties, where special elections were being held.

Democratic leaders decided to drop a requirement that all voters sign a statement swearing they are in fact Democrats. One voter who identifies himself as an independent says he wouldn't have gone to the polls if the oath had still been in place.

Erwin says most precincts reported no problems, but the election hasn't been entirely snag-free, "We anticipate some of this. You know, when you've got about 2000 precincts, ... you're gonna get to some buildings and find out you've got, you know, some issues."

Polling stations in Chester, Horry and Richland Counties had to be consolidated Tuesday, not because of staffing issues, but because of building issues.

Erwin says he's proud of his party's effort to conduct the first-in-the-South primary. South Carolina is one of only two states where the parties run their own primaries.

updated 7:38pm by Chris Rees