COLUMBIA, S.C. — They’re exhilarated…and exhausted. The group of about 50 Raleigh residents drove down to South Carolina last week to  knock on doors for Barack Obama.

Saturday was E-Day. They were up early, starting at 8 a.m. in Florence before visiting Hartsville, S.C.

Paulette Hill, group organizer, said Obama was popular in the neighborhoods she canvassed.

“For the most part, people were on their way to vote for Obama or had already voted for Obama,” she said.

Now, of course, we know that Obama won South Carolina, a win pundits called critical. Brent Fagg and Lindsey Doughterty are both 20-somethings who decided Obama was their candidate. They booked it down to South Carolina to help out for the pure experience of assisting with a campaign.

“I think the people who weren’t aware of what was going on, we definitely helped them realize that they could make a difference,” Doughterty said.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The North Carolina man not going down without a fight. A third-place finish here doesn’t mean it’s over. People operate better under pressure.

Or so say members of the Edwards campaign. Those who stood up to speak before Edwards all had words of encouragement:

“He’ll come back fighting like a tiger.”

“The thing you’ve got to remember is that we’ve only had four states, right? We’ve got 46 more to go.”

“That’s what we like about John Edwards - he’s a fighter.”

“At the end of the day we’ll be calling on President John Edwards.”

Those stay-the-course words were accompanied by the bar’s overhead speaker, letting a party know their table was ready. At first, the hundreds of people pressed in front of Edwards’ stage didn’t overcome the buzz from the Saturday party crowd in the next room.

But when Edwards walked in, a huge cheer emerged, as if their cheers could urge him to future victory.

Barack Obama spoke at 9 p.m., Hillary after 9:30. Edwards’ words started after Obama’s and before Clinton’s — putting him in the second-place spot he’d hoped to achieve here.   

Edwards didn’t talk about his loss or the future fight. He talked about his ideas. He talked about the people in America who fall through the system’s cracks, those who can’t pay their electric bills and their rent, veterans without health insurance, those who can’t afford college. And he thanked those who have helped him here in South Carolina, both this time and four years ago.

The Edwards party has dissipated…the press is packing up their gear. But the people here who support him say it’s not over ’til it’s over.

“Are you ready to continue to the next state?” said one speaker. “All right, let’s go!”

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A statement issued by Hillary Clinton’s press office:

“I have called Senator Obama to congratulate him and wish him well.

“Thank you to the people of South Carolina who voted today and welcomed me into their homes over the last year. Your stories will stay with me well beyond this campaign and I am grateful for the support so many of you gave to me.

“We now turn our attention to the millions of Americans who will make their voices heard in Florida and the twenty-two states as well as American Samoa who will vote on February 5th.

“In the days ahead, I’ll work to give voice to those who are working harder than ever to be heard.  For those who have lost their job or their home or their health care, I will focus on the solutions needed to move this country forward.  That’s what this election is about.  It’s about our country, our hopes and dreams. Our families and our future.”

COLUMBIA, S.C. — If you’re watching the networks, you’d think the race is already over. Fox and CNN, at least, are using their exit polls to determine that Obama has already won it.

Here at the Edwards camp, people and press are packing into the back room, normally the bar’s dance floor. We’re all waiting for the results to come in. It’s quieter than you’d expect, as people munch on appetizers and media make sure they’re all prepped and plugged-in.

As I sit on a folding chair, staking out laptop space where I can find it, a fellow newsperson is interviewing the chairman of the chairman of the South Carolina black caucus, an Edwards supporter.

“We’re very optimistic for a second-place finish tonight,” he said.

Hmm…so much for waiting for the results.

Word is, Clinton isn’t even in South Carolina, having already predicted a second- or third-place finish. Obama supporters are waiting at the Convention Center. Earlier today, I spoke with some Raleigh residents down here campaigning for Obama. They had not met him in person, but planned to attend his party tonight.

“We’re hoping it’s a victory party,” one said.