I suppose the results of this poll are understandable: a majority believe Barack Obama's election as President will improve race relations in America.

But, as the story notes, white and blacks come to this belief from different perspectives: blacks think as President Obama will address issues of racial inequality and racial injustice, while whites would see his election as, to use the words of the professor quoted in the article, "Exhibit A that racism or racial barriers are not entirely evaporated but are really not a major problem in America any more."

My concern has always been the potential fallout for race relations in America if Obama loses. Obama's two primary constituencies, African-Americans and upper class, white progressives, would be bitterly disappointed and would no doubt ascribe racism as a factor - if not the factor - in an Obama loss. That cry of racism, of course, will in turn ignite a significant amount of anger from white (and Hispanic) voters who didn't vote for Obama - just as it did in the Democratic primary.

According to the poll, 31% of Non-Hispanic Whites, 34% of Blacks, and 26% of Hispanics share my misgivings, saying that race relations in America are likely to get worse if Obama loses. Again, whites and blacks probably arrive at this conclusion from different angles, which just goes to show what a complex and thorny issue race continues to be in America.

--------------------------------------------
Follow the RCP Blog on Twitter.
Become a fan of RCP on Facebook.
--------------------------------------------