First he's too green. Second Clinton is the best candidate and it doesnt hurt that she is a woman. I love Hillary!!!!

he doesnt have to waste his time i would never vote for him he is not the man to be a president and his wife is goofy as he is

I'd love to see this poll breakdown those with a college degree and whom they choose.

He is not fighting back, we are voting for him. I am a black woman and we are not stupid enough to believe what the media is saying. Many black women out here don't care about what CNN is reporting. We are voting for Obama and we can not wait that time to come. I have a son and would have to tell him he can aim higher. So as my friends!

I am black educated woman and I am voting for Obama. What else?

I think when I listen to Obama, he has many issues that would resolve at the end of the day for me as a black woman than I think Hillary Clinton May be aware of. Obama can also help Africa,mexico and other parts of the world that are crying out for United states help more than Hillary Clinton will.I would vote for him.
Go, Barack,we have your Back!

Sen. Clinton is leading Sen. Obama among black women voters because they know the real thing when they see it. They know who is talking real issues that matter to real people. The majority of black women voters are not swayed by dog and pony shows. It's entertaining to see all those celebrities at Obama's appearances, but black women voters, like white women voters, want real change. They recognize that Hillary has the strength, experience, and dedication to bring about positive changes for our nation.

Go Obama

The whites people have ruled since united states came into existance. Time for a change. I have the paint ready to paint white house black!

Do any of you people have spell check?

How about this, I am supporting my candidate because they have experience doing XXXXX and got XXXX done?

You go girl, she's he best, his time has come, I have the paint……..

That's all you got?

I disagree the video and article's assessment.

I believe Mr. Obama has strong support from African American women. He's the the support of the most powerful AA woman in the country, Oprah Winfrey. I'm AA and the women in my family are voting for him, along with my friends and many co-workers.

What Obama and his supporters need to realize is, educated and informed people are not going to vote on a candidate just because he is black. For that matter, eduated and informed woman are not going to vote for Hillary soley based on her gender. On a side note, if you are trying appeal to black women I'm not sure Oprah is the way to go. Have you seen the majority of her auidence? Middle aged white woman. Sorry but its the truth.

When I watch presidential candidates do thier thing on TV I always come to the same conclusion with a single work "narcissism. We all know the words they speak are hollow, and some know that the polls are designed by political tricksters to lead the unknowing, or uncareing public.

I am a black man who supports Hillary Clinton. Black voters must ask themselves 3 questions before they vote for either Obama or Hillary. (1) Who are Obama’s and Hillary’s endorsers (particularly the black endorsers) and why are they endorsing those candidates? (2) Who can BEAT THE REPUBLICANS? (3) Which candidate is READY TO LEAD ON DAY ONE?

Most black endorsers of Hillary Clinton tend to be experienced Democrats who understand Hillary’s experience and the direction in which America NEEDS to go. Most of the black Obama endorsers are either only endorsing Obama because he is black or are one of those confused people who want to change the two-party system because they’ve bought into the right wing demagoguery that says Democrats exploit black people. There are also a lot of woman haters out there and it is sad.

If you are voting for Obama because he is black then you really just want to punt the ball back to the Republicans. Hillary Clinton has taken the jab that she is polarizing simply because she fires directly at the Republicans. What Obama and Edwards and the others, who think that firing at the reactionaries is risky, are not realizing is that if Americans can’t see the mess the reactionaries have made some of them might still think it’s cool to vote for the reactionaries. Somebody has to fire at the Republicans to stop their momentum. Hillary is the only candidate that has taken the fight to the Republicans.

Hillary Clinton is ready to lead on day one and does not need on-the-job training. She is clearly more experienced than Obama on foreign and domestic issues. If black people support Obama over Clinton it will make blacks look biased, racist, sexist and complacent because the Clinton’s have been our friends and have always look out for us. Stop listening to the haters, please. It would be quite hypocritical of us to talk about racial bias and then turn around and vote with bias. Black people must continue to support Hillary Clinton so that the Democrats can move the chains. We don’t want to punt the ball back to the reactionary right wing. Hillary Clinton is doing all the work and Obama is trying to steal all the credit. That is not fair at all, and black people should look deeply at this without listening to the hate, lies and demagoguery.

chavez,Alexander,IOWa : If you ready to paint the whitehouse a different color - when why not brown? Vote Richardson. All the democratic candidates are far far better than Obama. Too GREEN

I think CNN is twisting the news. Most of the Black,latino,white women around me are voting for Barack. I would think CNN is trying to campaign for Hillary any way possible. That is not gonna happen. Clintons had their time and we voted for them. I am personally voting for Obama.

If anyone looks at the first Clinton's record and what he did TO blacks and not FOR you would never put another Clinton back in the whitehouse.

Don't listen to the rhetoric spewed by the media or people who are in the Clintons' pockets, read real articles and results of Bill's decisions.

Start with the genocide in Rwanda.

Look at how Clinton made it possible for more blacks and poor to spend more time in jail than the rich.

Look at his so-called welfare reform that left children without a safety net.

Both the Clintons used and are still using the poor of all colors to get power. They will then throw a few crumbs your way and the poor are grateful and sing praise to the Clintons.

You don't want crumbs so you can stay in the gutter so you can be used over and over by self-serving politicians - you want real policies so we can all be lifted up.

I would never vote for a candidate based on their race; whether for OR against them.

I think it's insane to assume that black women will vote for Obama simply because he's black.

Hopefully they will vote for him because of his record, because of his stance, because you think he will do the best job…but to vote for a candidate based solely on their race. That's the type of behavior that Howard Dean is alluding to when discussing the fact that all the republican candidates are white males. He's accusing them of racism and here are people saying they'd only vote for a candidate becuase of their race, so what is the definition of racism now?

WOW, this election is not about color or gender; It's about who can lead in a true democrat way. I'm an intelligent Black women, and I'm still undecided.

Why do the threads about Obama and Hillary always divide people into tribes or demographics, such as "Black Women", "Women Voters", etc. Arent' we all Americans? Don't the Democrats constantly harp on "uniting" us?

disagree the video and article's assessment.

I believe Mr. Obama has strong support from African American women. He's the the support of the most powerful AA woman in the country, Oprah Winfrey. I'm AA and the women in my family are voting for him, along with my friends and many co-workers.

Posted By Vikisha, Milwaukee WI : November 30, 2007 12:40 pm

Gee, not that I'm a fan of the current administration, but I would have thought Condi Rice was the most poweerful AA woman in the country.

Why is CNN researching what divides black women from a black President?

I am a black educated woman and I am supporting Barack Obama. I don't see it wrong to do this given that white people have supported their white presidents and have never supported a black person till this time around when their president dupped them. I have been voting for white people but this time around I would not be fooled by anybody. I have a couple friends who are for Obama. My kids who are in their thirties are looking forward to go and cast the first vote and I hope it will be an important vote for them. I was so tired with G W Bush and I can not wait to turn the page. I don't expect much from obama but the much he will be able to do will be ok with me. He is an intelligent human being and he knows how hard to be a presidential candidate especially when you are a person of colour. The media have been something on Hillary and nobody has spoken against this. I feel it is ok for me to voice out my support to to the candidate that I resonate with and that is the next president of United states,
Barack Obama!

Speaking of Obama and women, I've seen very little critical comment on what was said at an Obama fundraiser in Harlem recently.

"You'd say, 'I had that white lady! What was I thinking,". To roaring applause in Obama's presence.

Every woman of any color should take note of this - take note of what was said and take note of what Obama's response was (or lack thereof).

Can you imagine the media and public response if a white person had said that about a black woman?

Regarding any woman's vote - perhaps Obama should ask his sponsors not to make racially and gender insensitive jokes to introduce him.

I am an AA man who supports Obama. The idea that we shouldn't support Obama because of what whites will think of us is would be funny if it wasn't so ignorant. I support Obama because he didn't punk out (like Hilary) on starting this insane venture in Iraq. At least Edwards had the good grace and courage to admit his vote on Iraq was wrong. I also support Obama for his boldness in changing direction in Cuba and on many other foreign and domestic policy issues.

Nearly every poll has shown Obama more electable than Hilary, so the wasting your vote rhetoric from Monte is also false. The Republicans have acknowledged that they hope to run against Hilary because she will raise more money for them and any Republican candidate.

Being married to the President isn't the same thing as governing experience. If she was married to a doctor, I wouldn't think she could dispense health care any better than someone without actual experience. In fact, the effort she led on health care was an abject failure. Hilary is better than any of the Republicans, but Obama and Edwards would both make better Presidents.

AA women don't need to be told who to vote for. They'll vote their convictions and beliefs, and like all of us they'll live with the consequences.

Once again the media tries to determine black Americans agenda and who is the right leader for us. Clinton might get 5% of black women votes because these type of women feels comfortable with anything other than black leadership. It's a the same type of slave thinking that it's better white.

I think it is ignorant for the media to believe that the primary reason Black women would support Obama is because is Black. As much as I may like the Clintons I just feel it is time for our government to move in a new direction. Seems that BOTH the Democratic and Republican parties are more interested in keeping their respective parties in power rather than serving for the good of the American people. How ironic that we criticize the government of Iraq for not finding ways to reconcile with the differing religious groups. Look at how divided our own country and government is. If Obama is sincere about bringing our country together and addressing issues faced by the average person, then that will persuade me to give him my support much more than the color of his skin.

I support Obama because his Judgement is unmatched. He is change. I cannot vote for someone who blindly supported the war in Iraq. Hillary didn't even read the intelligence report before giving Mr. Bush the right to occupy Iraq. Is that what comes from her "experience"? How can anyone vote for someone who didn't take it seriously enough to read the intelligence report? Yet, she has support as if she's going to change anything. Is that what you want in the White House? I think a lot of people are giving her support based on her Celebrity and her Husband. It's interesting that in polls of people with higher education, Obama crushes everyone! Be intelligent! Vote Intelligently! Don't vote for dishonesty and the status quo! And remember, Bill Clinton is not running for President. Leave his experience out of it!

This election race is definitely black man vs white lady. All these movie stars standing behind the candidates should go back to work and out of the political limelight. Let the candidates debate the issues. Obama must be frightened…. so Oprah to his call for help. Give me a break

I am not a black woman, I am a white man. And I don't see any reason why gender or race should factor into anyone's reasoning for supporting a candidate. Although Hillary is certainly more qualified on a number of levels, let's face it - she is more polarizing than any other candidate in the race. People where I live HATE her for no good reason. Sure it's unfair, but we need someone who is electable. I can tell you - the good ol' boys in the small towns around here are listening to Obama and liking what they hear. I can also tell you, that when he lived here in Springfield for 8 years as a nobody, he was always polite, respectful, a very good tipper at restaurants and an all-around nice guy. And everyone also loved Michelle his wife. If he can win the hearts of rural Illinoisans, who have a deep-seeded suspicion of anything coming from Chicago (or other large urban areas), he can win anywhere.

Celebrities have a RIGHT to VOICE their opinion and GIVE their SUPPORT to whomever they PLEASE.

What is wrong with you people that think because someone is a celebrity they don't have the same right that you have. You chose to BLOG they chose to go out and campaign!

Lastly,Barack will have PLENTY OF SUPPORT FROM EVERY RACE AND EVERY GENDER AS WELL AS REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT & INDEPENDENT!!!!! Hillary can't get one Republican to vote for her. We need someone with BROAD APPEAL across the board, no longer this RED STATE BLUE STATE DIVIDE!!!

I am not an african american woman, but I can say why I am not voting for Obama - he is not ready. Monte Brown couldn't have said it better. Don't worry sir - you were right on the money. And they all know it. ALL.

Hey CNN perhaps you guys could actually interview on camera these so-called anti-Obama African-Americans females your referring to and ask them face to face in front of America. But oh! that could never be done. Until you do this perhaps your accessment could be wrong.

This probably will get cut from comments which would prove my point.

I feel sorry for anyone of any nationality, race or anything else that votes for a candidate simply because they are black (in the case of Obama) or a woman (in the case of Hillary). If voters do not get smart and vote for experience that Hillary has for example, and Obama does not… it is just simply just a shame to vote then. Vote with brains and not whether someone is black. Color or nationality does not under any circumstances make that person the best person for the job. Oprah's support is shallow…wonder if she would put a person with only a couple of scant years experience to run her magazine - I think not!

I'm also white, I support Obama because he is ready to lead now, from day 1. Clinton's time has come and gone. We need a new direction with a leader who knows how to get us there.

Look at this health care issue. Obama has the better plan. Clinton's plan will not cover everyone. In fact, no one except Kucinich proposes universal health care.

However, Obama's plan, by virtue of not being mandated, could receive some level of bipartisan support, where a mandated plan surely will not.

The comment earlier is the same as I hear all the time down here in Texas. Clinton, for whatever reason, is hated as a candidate for president. Maybe no democrat can win Texas, but I think Obama might have a chance.

Hillary's argument on experience doesn't hold water. Biden, Richardson, Dodd, and Kucinich run circles around Clinton and Obama on experience. So, it isn't experience that is the issue. The issue is leadership and judgment.

Obama is winning on the issues, on electability, and on character and judgment. That's why he's moving up in the polls.

If what the Clinton supporters here say is true, Obama shouldn't have more than 5% of the vote. He shouldn't have $80 million in campaign funds from many, many, more different people than Clinton has. Obama is the real deal, and Clinton is taking a losing approach at the moment. So Hillary, keep doing what you're doing and keep dropping in the polls!

Most of us can figure out who she is and what she stands for. We don't like it.

Obama or bust.

Marie, Michigan, I love your comment. Ginny, Byron, CA, there are two different level of black women. First class black women are pure, smart and honest, they love Hillary because they believe Hillary will lead our Country to the right direction. Second class black women think Obama will change their lives if he is in the Office, it is mistjudgement, anyway Obama will not make even VP, we know he lies like a rug, his wife is not qualified for White House because she is mean and goofy as he is.

Is it really true that black women identify more with Hillary than Barak because Hillary has a philandering husband, as CNN suggests?

Is that the basis for electing a president? Because they have an unfaithful husband?

While Hillary was getting rich practicing law with the elite of society, Barak was in the trenches working with the poor and disenfranchised of all races to improve their lives.

That's why Hillary's war chest is funded by Big Money, and Obama's comes from the grass roots. It's where each comes from, where each is most successful operating.

So if you're a rich black woman, sure, you can identify with Clinton and she can probably identify with you. But if you're not in the elite, Obama doesn’t need a cheating spouse to understand you and your situation.

Everyone gets to vote once. No one's vote counts more than anyone else's.

At the end of the day it looks like Hillary or Obama will win the Democratic nomination. I am a Hillary supporter so I will be disappointed if she doesn't win, but I will regroup and back whoever the Democratic candidate is and I hope all Democrats will do the same when the time comes. I say this after watching the Senate race in Md where five African American Democratic elected officials right beore the election had a press conference and came out endorsing the Republican African American candidate and their reasoning was they were showing their displeasure that the Md democratic party didn't get behind Kweisi Mfume ( because he was African American according to their logic) who ran in the primary and lost to caucasian Jim Webb. It was one of the most distasteful things I've seen in politics and I hope if any of them run for re-election the MD voters remember that atrocity and vote them out of office. This 08 election isn't about race, gender or anything else other then putting our best candidate forward and hoping we get a Dem in the WH. Yes I posted this in other places because I think this is very important, although Jim Webb did eventually win , the race was so close there was talk of a recount, we've seen close races in the general election enough now that we should realize every vote counts.

TO PJP Springfield, Illinois

I am a black woman from a very small, but friendly town in VA and I whole-heartedly agree with your post. I'm totally amazed when I'm in discussion with older white co-workers (from an era when the very thought of someone like Senator Obama running for the highest position in the land was unprecedented) and they're extremely excited about voting for Senator Obama next year. If he's elected, it clearly gives us all hope that we can once again regain some of the greatness this country has stood for on the world stage. And to those of you in opposition of Senator Obama…if not now…WHEN????

He is trying hard now to get women voters by invoking his 'biography' (again?).. Raised by a "single mother"? Wasn't his mother remarried with that Indonesian Muslim guy? She divorced from Obama's natural father when he was 2 yo, and they all moved to Jakarta when he was 6yo. Even if she raised her child alone during those 4 years (actually they were in Honolulu with the grandparents, right?), this is hardly a 'single mother' profile. Another attempt by Obama to raise sympathy among voters!

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/02/us/politics/02women.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

I know what being a single mother means! its much harder than that.

I have no problem with a man or a woman of any race as president. But not this good-speaker-otherwise-empty individual.

Where are the numbers? How much is she 'leading'?

Monte Brown (and other Clinton followers)
I do like your questions, but I take issue with your answers.
(1) Who are Obama’s and Hillary’s endorsers (particularly the black endorsers) and why are they endorsing those candidates? I do acknowledge that there are a number of black endorsers supporting Clinton over Barack. At first I was shocked but I then realized the reasons. People like Maya Angelo, and Quincy Jones they all have had a long and personal relationship with the clinton's. It is this more than principle as to why they support Clinton. Maya Angelo read her poem at Bill Clinton's inauguration for goodness sake. You think she would dare resist the Clintons when they come at her looking for an endorsement. Obama has many blacks supporting him not because of a relationship but more on principle, like Oprah, Alice Walker, etc etc.

(2) Who can BEAT THE REPUBLICANS? You should look at actual facts rather than hang on to this defeatest attitude unfortunately prevalent among many among African Americans that America won't elect a black man. Hillary is polling at an unfavorable rating of 50% among Americans in general meaning 50% will never vote for her in this country, including yours truly. No one has ever won with such a high unfavorable rating. Barack Obama has an unfavorable rating of only 35%. That means 65% are open to voting for him possibly as opposed to only 50% for Hillary.

(3) Which candidate is READY TO LEAD ON DAY ONE? I am an African American male, well educated in his 20's, and an ardent Obama supporter (of course). I recently had a conversation with one of my lovely black female friends about this last question. She told me she supported Hillary because she had more experience, it was then I realized that its possible that many black women may actually support Hillary. We then had a discussion about the fact that Obama foresaw the disaster in Iraq and spoke up against it while Hillary blindly followed Bush to war. Obama also has access and the endorsement of many experts in national security namely Richard Clark who criticized Bush on his policies. But more important is the fact that Scandal and Conflict follows the Clintons and this fact alone will do more to damage their ability to get anything done if they were to make it back office. I really can go on and on about this but I'll keep it short. Recently Hillary has been attacking Obama over his health care plan for not covering every single American. In truth neither plans would be able to do that, but Clinton refuses to admit this. Obama wants to decrease the premiums by $2500/year for everyone that wants it. This will allow more people to afford it and get it. Hillary's plan costs 2-3 X the amount of Obama's and she wants to force everyone to get health care. Which do you want a choice to buy health care when it becomes more affordable under Obama, or to be forced into buying health care no matter what the cost under Hillary. A radical system like Hillary’s will never see the light of day anyway because you’ll need some Republican cooperation to bring any plan to pass which will be less likely with her. I hope CNN posts this and drops the Clinton News Network Distinction.

Most of these comments are "Scarry". They seem to be voting for the color of a persons skin rather than ability to be President of Our Country and restore us as the Leader of the Free World. It's going to take at least 2 or 3 Dem. Presidents to clean up Bush made problems.

I am a black educated woman, and I am voting for Hillary. She has worked in the public section for many years. She has always thought about the well being of women and children. She is intelligent, smart, and I like her poise while the media and Obama try to pile up on her for months now. She bends but does not break. She will make an excellent President.

Obama and his Audacity of Hope turned into criticize Hillary at all costs. He is not well versed in the needs of the Country and is promising everything to everyone.

Yet, when he alluded to the fact that the baby-boomers need to step aside, he got really silly by trying to use ageism as tool for his purposes. The baby-boomers are the largest group of Americans and we do VOTE in large percentages. He is 46 and I am 50. I am a baby-boomer, his disrespect was insulting.

A politician is a politician. In the past I have stated God has a special place for politicians and pedophiles (they both abuse the weak). I am ready for a change from the established leaders. Thus far I have not been happy with where I have been lead. We need a change now.

Hello everyone! I have not yet decided which candidate I will vote for; however, I have read a couple interesting comments that I want to address:
1. Mr. Obama is too "green": To that I say - let's look at the credentials of our current POTUS ("elected" to serve 2 terms): he had no international experience, dodged the opportunity to serve in the armed forces/reserve, and questionably operated several businesses in the state of Texas.
2. Mr. Obama is black: So what? Let's remember- HIS MOTHER IS WHITE. After his father returned to Kenya he was raised by his mom and step-father. He has been exposed to so many ethnic influences and I think this makes him better able to relate to so many different kinds of people.

I think it is necessary to have an intelligent, consensus-building, optimist as our next president. Let's vote for this person…whomever this may be.

obama: Yes we can, because i am a black man, if i want to cheat my wife, Yes We can, because I am a black man, if I want to have a lot of kids don't pay child support, Yes we can because I am black man. If I want to beatup a white kid never get punishment, Yes we can, because I am a black man, if I dont want to work, government have to give me food staple, Yes We Can, BECAUSE I AM A BLACK MAN, Wake up America…………….