Daniel Coward, 20, of Bells, Tennessee, and Paul Schlesselman, 18, of Helena-West Helena, Arkansas, hatched a bizarre but disturbing plan to go on a racist "killing spree" with the Democratic presidential contender as its ultimate target, say prosecutors.

The pair wanted to kill "88 people and behead 14 African-Americans" before shooting Mr Obama from their car in a suicide mission while wearing white dinner jackets and top hats, according to court papers.