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.

John and Cindy McCain aren't the Republican party - they are only members of the party. They will do, in some cases, what the Republican party asks of them as representatives of the party. That's why if you like McCain, but dislike the party platform, and you vote for the man, you're still getting the party platform.

But McCain is more known for crossing party lines than anybody else, hence the bit of hot water he's in with the ultra conservatives. The arguement you make is overly simplistic, BJean, and you're waaaaaay smarter than that. If things were simply a matter of following party lines, then how would the primaries work? The person that followed party lines "the bestest" get the nomination?

Everybody is pissed at the oil companies. But further taxing them won't work because they'll pass that cost along to the consumers (as Jack pointed out). and what level of taxation do you think is fair for the richest Americans? 33%? 50%? 75%?

I'm a registered independant, which means squat since we live and die by the two party system now. I'm leaning towards McCain now (but that's not set 'till I step in the booth).

I personally think that drilling should continue, we need to develop more secure domestic sources of energy like oil and natural gas, I think Alaska is willing and able to assist our country in addressing our energy needs while researching alternative energy at the same time, I know this option is not so popular, but I think it's necessary and other areas as well.

It's not real popular because it's not a viable long term solution, Elenation. Now matter how much oil we drill, it will eventually run out. We've had 30 years (since Jimmy Carter's term) to come up with an energy solution, and have squandered it away. We have to get off of oil. Anything else is just putting on a band-aid.

It's not real popular because it's not a viable long term solution, Elenation. Now matter how much oil we drill, it will eventually run out. We've had 30 years (since Jimmy Carter's term) to come up with an energy solution, and have squandered it away. We have to get off of oil. Anything else is just putting on a band-aid.

Well, I don't know, I think that we may have more oil in the shale of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming combined than in the Middle East ... It's not popular because the environmentalists, yes I wish we'd have the perfect energy solution, but we just don't have one right now and I don't see one in the horizon, and to get off of oil will also take a long time, ugh! the whole issue is just chaos and I hate to keep paying those high prices, somebody please do something:cursing:

There are solutions to the gas problem - drilling more wells isn't one that makes any sense. We've kept drilling wells and it hasn't helped. Spoiling our wilderness and our oceans and shores isn't the answer.

I will suggest that you watch "Who Killed the Electric Car" if you are serious about wanting alternatives to high gas prices.

I believe that these higher gas prices, which no one has really been able to explain, have been thrown at us to get us outraged - and it certainly has. Now they are going to close the deal by getting us to agree to more drilling. How dumb do we have to be? If we don't call those greedy people in Congress and in the oil and automotive industries on this, we'll be looking at our children's children bellyaching about gas prices.

plain I'm obviously not that smart or I would be able to explain it so that you can understand it. Sorry, I don't know how else to say it.

As for McCain crossing party lines, I don't want to sound mean, but in most elections the opposition calls it "flip flopping." John Kerry was accused of it ad naseum by Dubya.

McCain has done more flip flopping than a freshly caught fish on the deck of a boat.

Yep. I made that up all on my own. Sometimes I even surprise myself. :drool::confused_smile:

ha, I like your methaphor.

I think the high gas prices are inflated due to Wall Street, but I guess that's cause I work in the financial industry. According to OPEC's own stats, a barrell of crude oil should be worth $77, not the $130 that speculators on Wall Street have inflated it to.

I don't think either candidate is going to bring gas prices down. Gas has been relatively low for us for many years, way lower than most modern countries.

Edited June 18, 200818 yr by MrsFlipFlops
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plain I'm obviously not that smart or I would be able to explain it so that you can understand it. Sorry, I don't know how else to say it.

As for McCain crossing party lines, I don't want to sound mean, but in most elections the opposition calls it "flip flopping." John Kerry was accused of it ad naseum by Dubya.

McCain has done more flip flopping than a freshly caught fish on the deck of a boat.

Yep. I made that up all on my own. Sometimes I even surprise myself. :smile2::lol:

Not bad to make that up all on your own BJ!:thumbs_up: You know , some republicans don't like McCain because he has crossed party lines before and because they consider him "liberal", blah..blah.., but don't count myself in that group though, I think he is moderate and I like him even if he's had a flip or two on the deck of a boat before:tt2:, hey nobody is perfect... I didn't like Kerry and granted that the flip flopping didn't help him in general, but that was not the reason why I didn't vote for him.

As for McCain crossing party lines, I don't want to sound mean, but in most elections the opposition calls it "flip flopping."

To me, an educated person changes his views as better options come to light. A "flip-flopper" changes his views strictly to curry political favor. What issues has McCain flip-flopped on? There may be some, but I'm not aware of any. Certainly not enough to catagorize him as "as a caught fish"

Well, I don't know, I think that we may have more oil in the shale of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming combined than in the Middle East ...

Even so, it has to run out one day, right? We either start to take care of the problem now or our kids face this problem again later. If the government had looked hard at getting off oil in the Carter administration (and every administration since then), we might not be quite so bad off today.

I don't care if the President is purple! What matters to me is where he/she stands on the issues that concern the country. That being said, I personally do not feel that Obama is the right person for the job...regardless of color. Now, if it was Colin Powell, he'd have my vote in a heartbeat!

I also think we are ready for a female president but, again, Hillary is not for me.

I would love to see an honest, best-interest-of-the-country oriented President with high moral standards (is there such a thing anymore among politicians). IMO, the highest office in the country has become all about self-interest, power and wealth rather than what is truly good for the country. So sad...

Even so, it has to run out one day, right? We either start to take care of the problem now or our kids face this problem again later. If the government had looked hard at getting off oil in the Carter administration (and every administration since then), we might not be quite so bad off today.

I see your point Plain, though I think it will not run out easily, byt maybe eventually, but at least we do something now that could benefit us if not forever, for a very long time, and while we do that, I definitely think we can pursue other options to get off oil, that would be a good thing, but not easy either, so for now why not doing both and try every way that we can to help ourselves, completely agree with you on the fact that since the Carter administration and after that, we should've been looking for better options.

Hey folks, why do you think that we haven't been looking for better options since Jimmy Carter or anyone else has been in office? Do you think it is because Americans are just in love with gas guzzling cars? Seriously? Really?

Jack just because Obama feels one country shouldn't be allowed to aid and abet a proven terrorist doesn't have one thing to do with holding people who are not prisoners of any war without being tried for their crimes. In fact, we aren't even sure if they have committed crimes. He isn't suggesting that we bomb Pakistan because we suspect them of something. I don't understand how you can consider this flip flopping.

To learn of McCain's flip flops, all you have to do is listen to the news every day. You can see him doing it in action. He's been flip flopping since he began his journey to the White House and I don't mean a couple of years ago. I used to be a McCain supporter. I listened very closely and read all I could so that I could know the real person behind the facade. I started out thinking he was smart and a moderate. I was wrong. The one thing I know for sure is that he is not straight forward and he is not focused. He only becomes focused when it is in his best interest and his focus changes in whatever direction the popularity winds blow. I am so very over him.

I'm already tired of hearing the constant rehtoric from the Dems regarding McCain being more of the same. But the fact is, McCain is no better than Bush and he is embracing the same plans and policies of the Bush administration. If you like what you've gotten for the past 7 years, by all means, vote for McCain.

To learn of McCain's flip flops, all you have to do is listen to the news every day. You can see him doing it in action. He's been flip flopping since he began his journey to the White House and I don't mean a couple of years ago.

Wow....specific. BJean, this is propaganda. If you assert something, be prepared to back it up. I'll give you an Obama flop, and you give me a McCain flop.

To start things off: The Public election funding flop.

BTW, I've not ruled out voting for Obama. I really am voting energy (unless a bigger issue pops up). My whole point here is that I'm tired of people (right and left wingers) posting vague propagandist crap and not being able to support it.

plain- hee hee. :smile: I LOVE your sarcasm. I almost lol'd right in my office!

I'm wondering, too, what the difference in between a flip flopper and one who just changes their mind when they think about it and ponder with more information.

Jack, is it any wonder that Obama's podium decor displays his website? I must say that I don't believe anything I see online though, what with all the photoshopping that people are doing these days. Before I buy into anything I research it - otherwise I try to ignore it.

plain don't get me started. McCain's flipflopping started a long time ago. I don't have to back it up. If you aren't aware of it, that's your business. And you don't have to believe a word I say. That's also your business. I just post what I know to be true (like we talked about on another thread) and what I believe. Everyone's viewpoints have everything to do with their own politics (and I use that term in the broadest sense). I'm just happy if something I post makes someone think a little and pay closer attention to the candidates in action.