Most Americans pessimistic about race relations: Poll

Washington / AFP

An overwhelming majority of Americans think the next president should place “major” focus on improving US race relations, which most see as “generally bad.”
The Washington Post/ABC News poll released on Saturday was taken shortly after the mass shooting of white police officers by a black sniper that followed two high-profile shooting deaths of black men at the hands of police.
Out of 1,003 adults surveyed, 83 percent said the next president, who will be chosen by voters in November, should place an “especially major” focus on achieving better race relations, with nearly half of respondents saying it’s an “extremely” important issue. Only 12 percent said they don’t want the next president to place major emphasis on the issue. The national concern over race may benefit presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in her bid for the White House.