Growing number say country ready for black president

Posted: 04:01 PM ET

WASHINGTON (CNN) — A new poll suggests that the number of Americans who believe the country is ready for a black president is on the rise.

Seventy-six percent of those polled in a CNN/Essence Magazine/Opinion Research Corporation poll released Thursday say that the country is ready. That's up 14 points from December 2006, at the start of the presidential campaign.

"Some of the increase in the number of Americans who say the country is ready for a black president is a simple recognition of Barack Obama's success in the Democratic primaries," said Keating Holland, CNN's polling director.

"We're not asking this question in a vacuum. In many cases, respondents must have had Obama in mind when giving their answer, even though he is not mentioned anywhere in the questionnaire."

The senator from Illinois is locked in a battle with Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York for the Democratic presidential nomination. Obama currently leads Clinton in states won, delegates pledged, and in the overall popular vote in the primaries and caucuses held so far this year.

The poll also indicates that more white Americans than African-Americans think the country is ready for a black president. Seventy-eight percent of white Americans surveyed say the country is ready, as opposed to only 69 percent of African-Americans polled. Both numbers are up substantially from December 2006.

"Drawing on their own life experience, blacks are a little more skeptical than whites," said Bill Schneider, CNN's senior political analyst. "But blacks, too, have come around, particularly after the Iowa caucuses demonstrated that Obama could win in an overwhelmingly white electorate."

Holland added, "Among blacks, the belief that the country is ready for an African-American president is highest among blacks who share traits with Obama. Optimism about the country's acceptance of a black president is higher among black men than among black women, higher among college-educated blacks than among those with no college degree, and higher among younger blacks than older blacks."

The poll also suggests that more Americans think the country is ready for a black president than a woman president. Sixty-three percent of those surveyed said that the country is ready for a female president. That's 13 points lower than those who say the country is ready for black president.

"Do Americans see more prejudice against a woman than an African-American," Schneider asked. "More likely, they see more negative feelings about this woman than about this African-American. Because it's true. More people have an unfavorable opinion of Hillary Clinton than of Barack Obama."

It's also important to note that the poll asked whether the country is ready for a black or woman president, not whether the respondent would vote for a black or woman president.

"Few people will acknowledge their own prejudices, but they will answer whether they think the country is ready to elect a black or woman president," Schneider said.

The CNN/Essence Magazine/Opinion Research Corporation survey was released on the eve of the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

The poll was conducted by telephone from March 26 to April 2, with 2,184 Americans questioned, including 1,014 blacks and 1,001 whites. The survey's margin of error is plus or minus 2 percentage points for the overall sample and plus or minus 3 percentage points for the questions asked just of black or white Americans.

Just being in the position of President of the United States has it's risks and that's why there is so much security around our President and their families. There have been many attempts on many presidents in the past. He has the Secret Service protecting him now from what I gather and they've only gotten better since my husband's grandfather was one of FDR's personal body guards.

Hey, I may have a solution to the media bias problem. If you don't like Fox news, don't watch it. If you don't like MSNBC, don't watch. Watch only the stations that you choose to watch, and then you'll never have to fact-check any of the stories...:thumbs_up:

I agree with what Brandy said above , I also think that the secret service is highly trained now a days in ways that we couldn't even imagine with so much new technology and based on past experiences and what they've learned, times have changed for the better in that way IMHO. I feel positive about the protection issue.

and actually it has happened to a republican president before, the most recent was Ronald Reagan,(I think..) yes, it was supposedly a mentally ill person but still, it could happen to any president/candidate, again, I really feel more positive about this now a days.

About foul language, hey, I don't think I've actually cursed before, but I'm sure that I have snapped or been out of line at some point before on other threads because we get caught up in these discussions that we feel so passionate about and we are only human, I understand it can happen, but it does offend some people and that prevents from keeping the debate healthy and even alive... because sometimes it causes several people to leave the thread and so it's not as interesting and spicy:blush: anymore, so I think it's better to keep it respectful in my opinion. Thank you for the apology Watcher, it's cool!

Hi, I believe that we are ready, more ready than we will ever be. No person should have ever been judged by the color of his skin, but by the content and character of his heart. America is learning this, I think we have grown.

I'm sure this won't be a popular opinion, and I haven't finished reading the whole board yet so I don't know everything that has already been said... but... :smile:

I don't think America is NOT ready for a black president. I think Obama is not experienced enough to be president... if he's not elected it won't be because he's black, it's because he lacks fundamental experience.

Frankly, given his resume and the lack of experience therein I think the only reason he's gotten so far is BECAUSE he's black. No white guy with his exact level of experience would have been the nominee.

I'm sure this won't be a popular opinion, and I haven't finished reading the whole board yet so I don't know everything that has already been said... but... :smile:

I don't think America is NOT ready for a black president. I think Obama is not experienced enough to be president... if he's not elected it won't be because he's black, it's because he lacks fundamental experience.

Frankly, given his resume and the lack of experience therein I think the only reason he's gotten so far is BECAUSE he's black. No white guy with his exact level of experience would have been the nominee.

What about Ronald Reagan? He had his path eased because he was an actor.

I don't think it's because he's black I think it's the what he stands for and how he delivers his message and it's very attractive and almost a relief to most people. I see him as someone people want as a president because they see qualities in him that are admirable as a lot of people have been ashamed of their president/country. Or at least told they should be ashamed.

As a "middle of the roader" and someone who is for the first time "OLDER" than a possible president, I see his appeal to most younger people and people who aren't conservative in their view. I like him myself and would like to see a change in this country especially for the better.

I have a hard time with understanding black and white. Black father, white mother, but he's black. I am 1/4 Hispanic but you would never know it by looking at me and never even met my Hispanic grandfather. Am I Hispanic, I don't speak the language, love the culture, love the food, but that's a different story don't know if that's nurture/nature. I guess in this country every little detail is so important especially when running for office, race, religion etc... Just a thing I have a hard time grasping, ok one of millions!

I still won't make up my find until I see McCain and Obama debate each other and hopefully by election time I can make up my mind without hesitation. brandyII:smile:

I'm sure this won't be a popular opinion, and I haven't finished reading the whole board yet so I don't know everything that has already been said... but... :crying:

I don't think America is NOT ready for a black president. I think Obama is not experienced enough to be president... if he's not elected it won't be because he's black, it's because he lacks fundamental experience.

Frankly, given his resume and the lack of experience therein I think the only reason he's gotten so far is BECAUSE he's black. No white guy with his exact level of experience would have been the nominee.

Definitely not a popular opinion and kudos to you for posting it!

I agree that we ARE ready for a black president, I agree with you about Obama's lack of experience among other ultra liberal views that I'm not sure if the majority of the country if ready for, I think this country will be eventually though and unfortunately for me since I'm conservative....but I think that "partially" he has gotten far because he is black, because having a black man as the presidential candidate is such a step forward for our country that people are just so fired up about it, at least in my opinion, I'm one that thinks that we as a country have grown a lot when it comes to racism, I know we have more to grow, but I do see a huge positive change in that sense, and I think that in some cases people want to vote for him, even if it's just to prove to ourselves that we are ready for it, that we have changed, that we can do it.... however, the main reason why I think that he has gotten that far without the experience is because of the disgruntle with the existing president/war, since there are so many that feel that way towards president Bush and the war, (doesn't mean I'm including myself there...sorry:huh2:) they see Obama as the complete opposite ,therefore he "MUST" be the answer, Hillary did pretty well in the primaries, but the fact that she is a "Clinton" didn't make her look like the "new" "in" "drastic change" candidate, Obama came across that way... I will add that I do give him credit for being a smart educated guy and for getting to this point and for his achievements but I don't necessarily agree that drastic changes over all and/or across the board will necessarily be the right answer for our country, I think that being as progressive as he is and having so many changes in mind with such limited experience could end up in disaster, specially when it comes to foreing policies, just my opinion and respecting all the Obama supporters out there.:smile:

I agree Elenation.

About the Ronald thing, to en extent yeah, but I have seen the dramatic pressure black folks put on eachother to vote for Obama. It's assumed that because you're black you support Obama. When you say you're not, there's an immediate, I don't know what you'd call it, backlash, semi outcast moment- that's you're not really black if you don't vote Obama.

I also think it's amusing about how he's black but not all black. Why can't he be white? He's got that in him too? The whole "one drop" rule I guess is king.

YOu have a point Green about Ronny, though he did serve two terms as the governor of a liberal California, which I think it must've been a pretty tough job , also, after being an actor he was defeated in his run for the republican presidential nomination back in 68 and 76, the actor thing didn't help much at the time, so I don't know if it was really of much help in his election in 1980. What can I tell you Green, I biased...:smile:

I still won't make up my find until I see McCain and Obama debate each other and hopefully by election time I can make up my mind without hesitation. brandyII:smile:

You are a smart girl!!!!!!!!!:smile:

It is interesting to hear someone say that black people are putting pressure on each other to vote for Obama. I personally haven't seen that. In fact, I have noticed just the opposite. Guess we've been hanging out at different TV spots.

Don't bring up my f bombs and bullshit. I felt passionate about what I was saying. HMMPH. :frown:

Who be bringin' up yo eff bombs, froggie??? Twern't me.

erica did of course.