While most of the political world is focused on the Pennsylvania Primary scheduled for April 22 or the Democrats’ delegate dilemma, Mississippi is hosting a Primary of its own this coming Tuesday. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of the state shows Barack Obama leading Hillary Clinton by fourteen percentage points in the state. It’s Obama 53% Clinton 39%.

Clinton leads among senior citizens but trails among younger voters. But, it is the racial divide that defines the campaign in Mississippi—Obama leads 80% to 12% among African-American voters while Clinton holds a 47% advantage among White voters. (see Rasmussen Reports video analysis )

Both candidates are viewed favorably by 69% of the state’s Likely Primary Voters. But, Obama earns Very Favorable ratings from 50% while only 37% are that enthusiastic about Clinton.

Clinton receives favorable views from 72% of White voters and 66% of African-American voters. Fifty percent (50%) of White voters have a Very Favorable opinion of her while just 25% of African-American voters say the same.

Obama is viewed favorably by 92% of African-American voters and just 44% of White voters. Seventy-eight percent (78%) of African-American voters in Mississippi have a Very Favorable opinion of Obama. Just 19% of White voters share that view.

One measure of a deepening divide in the party is that just 56% of Obama voters have a favorable opinion of Clinton. Just 34% of Clinton voters have a favorable opinion of Obama.

If Obama is nominated, just 47% of Clinton voters say they are even somewhat likely to vote for Obama in the general election against John McCain.

If Clinton is nominated, 65% of Obama voters say they are at least somewhat likely to vote for her against McCain.

Nationally, the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll shows that both Clinton and Obama are in a competitive race with McCain. See a summary of recent state-by-state general election polling.

Crosstabs available for Premium Members Only.