Obama ‘risky’ choice: Whites

Over half of the American whites consider presumptive Democratic presidential candidate, Mr Barack Obama as a "risky" choice for the White House, whereas two-thirds believe Mr McCain as a "safe" pick, a new survey has revealed.

The survey by the Washington Post/ABC News also opens up apprehensions of the race factor being whipped up by white supremist groups as a way to stop the Illinois Senator and the first African American from entering the White House.

The survey has shown that over half of Whites called 46-year-old Obama a "risky" choice for the top post, while two-thirds said Mr McCain is a "safe" pick — 43 per cent of the whites said Mr Obama has sufficient experience to serve effectively as President, and about two in 10 worry he would over-represent the interests of African Americans. This is a factor that the Obama campaign needs to bear in mind as it renews its effort to slug it out in state like West Virginia.