The Unit's Dennis Haysbert Claims To Have Paved The Way For Barack Obama

[Brian Damage]

TV president Dennis Haysbert is convinced his portrayal of David Palmer in 24 has paved the way for African-American presidential candidate Barack Obama to make a serious run for the White House in 2008.

The actor thinks his role in the hit television drama gave Americans a taste of what the country might be like if a black man was in charge - and they liked what they saw.

Haysbert says, "As far as the public is concerned, it did open up their minds and their hearts a little bit to the notion that if the right man came along... a black man could be president of the United States. People on the street would ask me to run for office... It doesn't surprise me that Barack would be met with open arms and minds."

Senator Obama and former First Lady Hillary Clinton are the favourites to land the Democratic candidacy to run for presidential office.