Poll: 80% Ok with Black or Woman President

Good news for Hillary and Obama:

In new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, eight in 10 Americans would be "comfortable" or "enthusiastic" about an African-American or woman running for president. That apparent openness — reflected across race, region and age groups — is encouraging news for leading 2008 Democrats Clinton and Obama.

Openness for a Jewish or Mormon President was also reported in the poll. No word on a Muslim's chances.

Overall, it's an encouraging report in that Americans are becoming openminded about judging potential nominees by their ability to lead instead of by gender, color or religion.

However, unless we're willing to consider an atheist for higher office I'd say we still have a long way to go. And don't say it's impossible, either. Staunch Catholic country Chile just elected it's first woman/socialist/atheist president.

Bad news for Republicans (but good news for the rest of us): the poll shows the public expressed more doubt about someone who served in Bush's cabinet than someone who is gay or lesbian.



+Save/Share | |