Tens of thousands of Americans left their doorsteps Tuesday to join the long lines outside the polling stations on the U.S. Election Day, to give their verdict and elect the 44th U.S. president.

The 2008 election is the first time in U.S. history that two sitting senators are running against each other for president and the first time an African American is a presidential nominee for a major party. In addition, the Republican presidential candidate, John MacCain, would be the oldest first-term president if elected.

"People are excited about the prospect that the presidential election this time will help solve the issue of racism," said David Birenbaund, a firm supporter of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, who was helping around at a polling station in Arlington of Virginia Tuesday morning.

"Like many Americans, what I care most is the national interest of the United States, skin color does matter to very few people, but never to me," he added.

"In fact, we Americans do not expect a change of policy, what we expect most is a generational change," he said, adding that a lot of people feel that it's time for a new generation of leadership, which "reminds me very much of John F. Kennedy."

James Hill, a volunteer who was distributing flyers in favor of Obama at a subway station in Virginia the day before the Election Day, told Xinhua that he seldom thinks of the issue of racism unless it is purposely mentioned.

"Americans don't have much time to waste, we should face the music," said Hill, adding that Americans must choose the best person who could lead this country according to his abilities but not skin color. "No matter who is selected, Obama or MacCain, leadership matters the most," he added. "If we focus on color sort of thing, we'll be laughed at," he said.

According to U.S. media reports, MacCain himself said earlier that racism will "play virtually no role" when voters head to the polls because "it will be trumped by the nation's economic problems."

In a transcript of an interview taped for broadcast on CNN's " Larry King Live," MacCain said people would vote "for the best of reasons, not the worst of reasons."

"Obama is a man of great vision," Elizabeth Hall, a white lady, told Xinhua shortly after a rousing rally for Obama held Monday night in Manassas, Virginia. "He knows clearly what our problems are and has tons of good ideas to tackle them."

"Our country is in big trouble and it needs a great leader like him to take us out of the mire in which we are deeply trapped," she said, adding she and many other whites did not care too much about the "skin color" factor.

Noting that Obama is a highly educated person, she said " whomever is the most suitable to lead the country should be elected to the post."

Despite signs that things are making a turn for the better, many still fear even if Obama were selected, he could hardly change the legacy of racism in America.

"America is still one of the most segregated countries by race and by class in the industrialized world," said Dedrick Muhammad, a researcher at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington.

Muhammad stressed that black Americans remain far behind the rest of the country in terms of economic conditions, with median wealth one-tenth of that in white America, and one in three black children born into poverty.

Nevertheless, an increasing number of American voters, especially those who are highly educated, believe they have discarded the antiquated concept of racism.

"Just think about it. The most intelligent people (in northern Virginia) vote for Obama, you can see that racism is not so important when Americans are faced with choices, especially when the national interest is involved," said Robert Blakeman, a resident in northern Virginia.

(Xinhua News Agency November 5, 2008)