The South Carolina Democratic primary ended before it started.

Hillary Clinton cruised to a 73 percent to 26 percent win over Bernie Sanders Saturday night, thanks in large part to a record-breaking amount of African-American voters. The former Secretary of State earns 39 delegates and takes much-needed momentum into Super Tuesday.

"Today you sent a message in America (that) when we stand together there is not barrier too big to break," Clinton said at a Columbia, S.C. rally. "Tomorrow this campaign goes national. We are going to compete for every vote in every state. We are not taking anything or anyone for granted."

Support for Clinton wavered following a loss in the New Hampshire primary and near-wins in Iowa and Nevada caucuses, but a strong showing in South Carolina solidified her status as the Party's front-runner.

Winning the African-American Vote

A New York Times exit poll found black voters accounted for 61 percent of primary voters. Fewer than two percent of Latinos participated.

Of those black voters, over 85 percent chose Clinton, breaking a record set in 2008 with then-Senator Barack Obama; 78 percent of African-American voters backed Obama eight years ago, though he had to compete with two candidates instead of one.

"We also have to face the reality of systemic racism that more than half a century after Rosa Parks sat, and Dr. King and John Lewis bled, still plays a significant role in determining who gets ahead in America and who gets left behind," Clinton said.

Part of the reason Clinton did so well is because of her vow to protect President Obama's legacy. She often talks about gun violence and violence against young minorities; on Saturday, Clinton referenced by name five African-American women whose children lost their lives to one of the two.

"This campaign and our victory is for the reverend, a presiding elder of the AME church, who looked at all the violence and division in our country and asked me, 'How? How are we ever going to strengthen the bonds of family and community again?" Clinton said.

Clinton Targets Trump

Clinton took thinly-veiled shots at Donald Trump, focusing primarily on the Republican presidential leader's oft-questioned immigration policy.

"Despite what you hear, we don't need to make America great again. America has never stopped begin great," Clinton said. "But we do need to make America whole again."

She added, "Instead of building walls we need to be tearing down barriers. We need to show by everything we do that we really are in this together."

Both Clinton and Trump have won three of each respective Party's first four contests, but it's Trump's immigration and foreign policy that has drawn skepticism. Earlier in the week, former Mexico President Vicente Fox adamantly said "I'm not going to pay for that f---ing wall." On Saturday, another conservative ex-president, Felipe Calderon, compared Trump to Hitler and called his rhetoric "frankly racist."

Clinton's slow-building lead relies on Latino African-American voters, both which played vital roles in her Nevada and South Carolina victories. A big chunk of Super Tuesday states carry large minority populations, including Texas and Virginia, and may be the reason the Democratic Party's nomination goes to Clinton by Wednesday morning.

Sanders Prepares for Super Tuesday

The Vermont senator didn't stay in South Carolina long enough for primary votes to be calculated, instead getting a jump start in Super Tuesday states.

"I am going to need your help the day after the general election because I can't do it alone," Sanders told a Rochester, Minn. crowd. He continued, "In Minnesota, we will win if the voter turnout is higher, no doubt about that. We will not win if the voter turnout is low."

Sanders focused his attacks on Republican but too a few not-so-subtle shots at Clinton, specifically her Super PAC ties and refusal to release transcripts of paid speeches she delivered on Wall Street.

"Tonight we lost. I congratulate Secretary Clinton on her strong victory," Sanders said. "Tuesday, over 800 delegates are at stake and we intend to win many, many of them."