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.

Taking one's words out of context does not equal socialism.

No, but "spreading the wealth" DOES. Obama's own words. Nothing taken out of context. Guess he should stick to teleprompters telling him what to say, cuz frankly when he's on his own... OOPSIE! :cool2:

FANTASTIC, Jack! And wow, written by a black man, too. Guess he'd better duck and hide.

Written by a black man.... now isn't that just a magnificent observation.

It's one man's opinion and I'm sure you agree that it is a perfect definition of the character of Senator Obama if you're a desperate Republican.

Written by a black man.... now isn't that just a magnificent observation.

It's one man's opinion and I'm sure you agree that it is a perfect definition of the character of Senator Obama if you're a desperate Republican.

No need to be desparate, and it's far from one person's opinion. It's fact for those who choose not to play ostrich. He hit the nail right on the head -- AND it's made doubly sweet that he's not riding the race train.

The race train, eh. This just keeps getting better and better.

I like trains...toot toot.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JV_IphAIGPg]YouTube - Palin pranked by fake Sarkozy! Hilarious! (Full Version) Sarah Palin Phone Prank Call Best Ever![/ame]

Palin tricked by Sarkozy impersonator

Posted: 04:01 PM ET

From CNN Associate Political Editor Rebecca Sinderbrand

Palin fell victim to Canadian pranksters Saturday.

(CNN) — Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin fell victim Saturday to Canadian pranksters who convinced her she was actually speaking by phone with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Palin spoke to Marc-Antoine Audette for about six minutes before the comedian identified himself, and she ended the call.

“Thank you sir, we have such great respect for you, John McCain and I, we love you,” Palin tells the imposter, who tells her he hoped she will be president one day. "Ha ha, maybe in eight years," she responded.

Audette, as Sarkozy told Palin that hunting was one of his favorite activities. "Oh, very good, we should go hunting together," Palin replied, adding, "I think we could have a lot of fun together as we're getting work done. We could kill two birds with one stone that way."

"I just love killing those animals! Taking away life, that is so fun," said the fake French president.

Palin laughed. The prankster told her that he'd love to go hunting, as long as "we don't bring Vice President Cheney."

"I'll be a very careful shot, don't worry," says Palin, with another laugh.

Added Audette: "You know we have a lot in common also because from my house I can see Belgium."

"Yes, see, we are all right next door to other countries that we need to be working with," said Palin.

Audette is half of the comedy duo The Masked Avengers, who host a show on Montreal radio station CKOI.

The Palin campaign confirmed the prank. "Governor Palin received a phone call on Saturday from a French Canadian talk show host claiming to be French President Nicholas Sarkozy. Governor Palin was mildly amused to learn that she had joined the ranks of heads of state, including President Sarkozy, and other celebrities in being targeted by these pranksters. C'est la vie."

heres a little comedy for you......too classic for words

LOLOL omg I almost spit out my water.

I must admit this was a great prank. My 9 year old screens my calls better than Palins staff for gods sake.

It was a brilliant prank. And she still doesn't know any more about the foreign affairs, it seems. She was given the wrong name for Canada's Prime Minister and, as for Quebec, a province doesn't have a Prime Minister, it has a Premier.

Thanks for posting this. I was LMAO, eh.

Obama's grandmother dies after battle with cancer - CNN.com

A great woman was lost today... And our future president mourns

Wow that is so sad the day before the election. I am glad he was able to go see her before she passed.

I heard she passed on the news today. I hope she rests in peace and gets to smile down on her grandson as he becomes the new president of the united states of america.

I heard she passed on the news today. I hope she rests in peace and gets to smile down on her grandson as he becomes the new president of the united states of america.

That would be very cool.

Now Rush Limbaugh has to eat his words, but I doubt it. He made reference to Obama going to Hawaii as something mysterious and fishy..to do with his birth certificate and that his Grandmother wasn't that ill. What a jerk RL is.

I voted and am proud to say for Obama and Biden this morning.