Obama supports shift in affirmative action

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama has come close to calling for an end to race-based affirmative action, political observers say.

Politico reported Sunday that since 2004, the Illinois senator has suggested that economic status should match or trump race and gender as criteria for who should benefit from programs.

Obama has said his two daughters should not be given preferential treatment because of their relatively privileged upbringing.

He has called for the federal government to craft a policy "in such a way where some of our children who are advantaged aren't getting more favorable treatment than a poor white kid who has struggled more."

Friends of Obama have said they recalled him saying that he did not list his race on his Harvard Law

School application.

"I have no way of knowing whether I was a beneficiary of affirmative action either in my admission to Harvard or my initial election (as president of the Harvard Law ) Review. If I was, then I certainly am not ashamed of the fact, for I would argue that affirmative action is important precisely because those who benefit typically rise to the challenge when given an opportunity."