Majority of Americans Say U.S. on Wrong Track: Poll

Americans are divided along racial lines but agree that the United States is on the wrong track and the economy is the top priority, according to an opinion poll conducted by USA Today, ABC News and Columbia University released on Tuesday.

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Seven in 10 blacks expect Barack Obama, the first African American to be nominated for president by a major party, to defeat Sen. John McCain in the November 4 election, the poll found.

Among registered voters, blacks support Democratic presidential nominee Obama by 92 percent to 4 percent. Hispanics back the Illinois senator by 57 percent to 33 percent.

Whites support Republican nominee McCain by 56 percent to 36 percent, the poll found.

Among the 13 percent of blacks who predict McCain will prevail, racism was the reason most often cited, USA Today reported.

The 50 percent of whites who expect the Arizona senator to win were more likely to cite the candidates’ levels of experience as the reason.

Only 5 percent of whites who say McCain will win say racism is the key factor, the newspaper said.

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