CBS News’ beleaguered anchor Katie Couric says sexism is more common and more acceptable in society than racism, but voters do not agree.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 36% believe African-Americans face more discrimination, while only 28% say it’s worse for women. Thirty-six percent (36%) are not sure.

Voters were more evenly divided in a survey last month. While 32% of voters thought African-Americans faced more discrimination, 31% felt it was a greater problem for women.
Couric has consistently battled last-place ratings since moving to the CBS nightly anchor position from NBC’s “Today Show.” She is the first woman journalist to anchor a primetime news program by herself.

Last week while overseas to interview Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama during his travels, Couric told the Israeli newspaper Haaretz: “I find myself in the last bastion of male dominance, and realizing what Hillary Clinton might have realized not long ago: that sexism in American society is more common than racism, and certainly more acceptable or forgivable.”

In the new survey, four out of five black voters (80%) say members of their race face more discrimination than women, while white voters are split on the question. Thirty-percent (30%) of whites say blacks are more victimized, but 31% say women are.

Women are more divided on the question than men. While 36% of men think African-Americans are more discriminated against, 28% think that of women. Among women, 33% think racism is more prevalent, while 35% say sexism is.

Most voters believe race relations in America have improved greatly, and continue to do so. Eighty-two percent (82%) think relations between white and black Americans are better than they were in the 1960’s, with just 11% who disagree. White voters are more likely than black voters to say relations have improved, as are younger voters. Sixty-nine percent (69%) of black voters believe race relations are better today, compared to 71% last month.

Sixty-two percent of voters (62%) say race relations are getting better these days, while 14% say they are getting worse and 21% believe there has been no change. One in four black voters (24%) believes race relations in the United States are worsening. That’s up from 12% last month.

Most voters have not personally witnessed discrimination of either demographic recently. Eighteen percent (18%) of voters say they have witnessed sexual or racial discrimination in the past week. Seventy-seven (77%) say they have not witnessed racial discrimination, while 75% report they have not witnessed any sexual discrimination.

See survey questions and toplines. Crosstabs available for Premium Members only.