Washington ? While Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are sizing up each other’s White House prospects, a new poll suggests the country is a bit readier to make an African-American president than a woman.

A Newsweek poll finds 86 percent of registered voters say they would back a qualified woman nominated by their party. For a black person, 93 percent say they would be willing to back the candidate.

The survey also found Americans think their fellow citizens still are a bit reluctant to elect either. Only 55 percent say the U.S. is ready to elect a woman; 56 percent say they can see the country selecting a black president.

“You’ve got a real societal change,” said Baruch College political scientist Doug Muzzio. “You’ve got a woman of national prominence and more women across the country in prominent roles, and it’s the same for blacks.”

He suspected the second set of numbers is closer to reality, but the results echo a recent ABC poll in which 69 percent of Americans said it wouldn’t matter if a candidate is a woman and 17 percent said they would be more likely to vote for a female president. For a black candidate, 84 percent said it wouldn’t matter and 9 percent said it would help.

Such polls are likely to be seized upon by both Obama, D-Ill., and Clinton, D-N.Y. Each must convince Democrats the country is ready to elect someone other than a white man.

Clinton remains the front-runner, but Obama has vaulted to the second tier with 2004 vice presidential nominee John Edwards. Head to head, Clinton beats Obama 50 percent to 38 percent, Newsweek said.

“Those polls suggest the country is a little more ready to elect a black president, but that gets ruined by reality when you throw in the specific names,” Muzzio said.