By AP/KWMU
Washington – Federal law enforcement officials say the Secret Service is placing Senator Barack Obama under its protection.
They say the decision is not based on any direct threat to the Illinois Democrat, but rather general concerns about the safety of the prominent black presidential candidate.
A senior official says several factors raised concerns. They include racist chatter on white supremacist web sites.
A Secret Service spokesman says the Department of Homeland Security authorized Obama's security detail after consultations with a bipartisan congressional advisory committee.
It's the earliest a presidential candidate has ever been given a Secret Service detail.
New York Senator Hillary Clinton also has a Secret Service detail because she is a former first lady.