Obama deadpans on Letterman

"I was actually black before the election" U.S. President Barack Obama jokes on David Letterman's late-night chat show.

Barack Obama make the remarks in a pre-recorded segment of the "Late Show With David Letterman" when he was asked about former President Jimmy Carter's comment that some of the sharp criticism aimed at the current U.S. president in the healthcare debate seemed to reflect racism.

As well as comedic moments the interview tackled weighty issues, with Obama offering a cautious prognosis on the economy saying, "we are not out of the woods yet."

Obama, whose approval ratings have tumbled amid a rancorous debate on his plan for healthcare reform and accusations by critics that his policies would lead to too much government meddling in the economy, has made a series of appearences on U.S. television shows in recent days, in an effort to explain and promote his policies.

Source: CBS/WORLDWIDE