CHARLESTON, S.C.—Sen. John Edwards captured a must-win victory here last night, capturing the South Carolina Democratic primary by a margin of 15 points over Sen. John F. Kerry, his nearest competitor.

But the Massachusetts senator cemented his place as the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination with victories in five states across the country, including a major win in delegate-heavy Missouri.

The South Carolina vote “keeps [Edwards’s] candidacy alive, and keeps him viable for the vice presidential spot,” said Institute of Politics Director Daniel R. Glickman.

Twenty-two Harvard students joined the political frenzy here over intersession, flying down from Cambridge to volunteer for four presidential campaigns. The trip was partially funded through the Institute of Politics and was organized and sponsored by the Harvard College Democrats (HCD).

“We wanted to give people a feel for real campaigning, especially presidential primary campaigning,” said HCD President Andrew J. Frank ’05, who volunteered for the Edwards campaign here. “We had the resources to do it.”

South Carolina was a critical test for Edwards. The state garners national attention as the first primary held in the south and is also Edwards’ place of birth. A heavy investment of funds and time helped Edwards fend off a last-minute surge by Kerry.

Elsewhere, Kerry easily took the Missouri primary with 51 percent of the vote, while Edwards came in second with less than half that total. Gen. Wesley K. Clark took Oklahoma by a slim margin—almost 1,300 votes—last night.

In South Carolina, Edwards had received 45 percent of the ballots cast here yesterday with 94 percent of precincts reporting.

Kerry was in second place with 30 percent of the vote.

The Harvard volunteers have been working on the campaigns since their arrival in Charleston last Thursday. Students fanned out into various areas of the city to canvass, knocking on doors and distributing literature about their respective candidate. Though canvassing and publicity were the major activities of the week, students also helped phonebank and organized campaign activities.

Frank passed the afternoon of election day at a local taxicab station.

All of the campaigns offer voters a ride to the polls to help draw out support. Frank was the day’s “dispatcher” for the Edwards camp; residents were encouraged to call the campaign office, which would then arrange a ride with a taxi.

“To be honest, I’m just sitting around,” Frank said.

Kerry Triumphant

In the rest of the country, Kerry carried the day, according to political experts.