Just because the winner of the SC primary has won the GOP nomination since 1980 or whenever, it doesn't necessarily have to be that way in 2008 
I think there is a major difference between caucus and a primary. Caucuses are more public and people can be subject to peer pressure. In a secret ballot primary, they cannot.
Second, because of the disproportionally large number number of Mormon voters in NV, it isn't representative. Had Mitt won NH, a neighboring state partly within the MA media market, SC would make little difference.
Third, even though the caucuses doesn't award delegates, Romney spent time there. The effort expanded wasn't worth the PR.
This is about SC, one of the two races between McCain and the nomination. "The Death Star has cleared the planet! The Death Star has cleared the planet! "
