Poll: 76 percent say U.S. ready for black president

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The number of Americans who believe the country is ready for a black president is rising, a poll out Thursday suggested.

More than three quarters, 76 percent, of respondents in a CNN/Essence Magazine/Opinion Research Corp. poll said the country is ready to be led by an African-American, up 14 points since December 2006.

Some of the rise can be attributed to the success of Sen. Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential 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," Holland said.

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

The poll also indicates more whites than blacks think the country is ready for a black president. Of the white Americans surveyed, 78 percent said the country is ready, as opposed to 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. But blacks, too, have come around, particularly after the Iowa caucuses demonstrated that Obama could win in an overwhelmingly white electorate," said Bill Schneider, CNN senior political analyst.

"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," Holland said.

The poll also suggested more Americans think the country is ready for a black president than a female president. Sixty-three percent of those surveyed say the country is ready for a female president, 13 points lower than those who say the country is ready for a black president.

"Do Americans see more prejudice against a woman than an African-American? 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," Schneider said.

The poll asked whether the country is ready for a black or female president, not whether respondents would vote for a black or female 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 survey is being released on the eve of the 40th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. 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 white.

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 to blacks or whites.

linky

[GaryC 7]

Yes, I think America is ready for a black president just as we are ready for a woman president. As always my choice hinges on their stands on issues rather than their skin color or gender. I would gladly vote for a black or female candidate that shared my views.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Yes, I think America is ready for a black president just as we are ready for a woman president. As always my choice hinges on their stands on issues rather than their skin color or gender. I would gladly vote for a black or female candidate that shared my views.

Sure, stance on issues is important.

[GaryC 7]

Yes, I think America is ready for a black president just as we are ready for a woman president. As always my choice hinges on their stands on issues rather than their skin color or gender. I would gladly vote for a black or female candidate that shared my views.

Sure, stance on issues is important.

To me it's the only thing thats important. If your talking about electing a black or a woman just so we can say we did it then no.

[Scott & Lai 12]

Yes, I think America is ready for a black president just as we are ready for a woman president. As always my choice hinges on their stands on issues rather than their skin color or gender. I would gladly vote for a black or female candidate that shared my views.

Sure, stance on issues is important.

To me it's the only thing thats important. If your talking about electing a black or a woman just so we can say we did it then no.