Two Mid-South men with strong white-supremacy beliefs are in federal custody after planning to go on a bizarre state-to-state killing spree, targeting blacks and ending with the assassination of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, federal authorities said today.

Daniel Cowart, 20, of Bells, Tenn., near Jackson, and Paul Schlesselman, 18, of West Helena, Ark., hatched their violent plan after they met on the Internet last month and discussed their shared interest in “White Power” and “Skinhead” philosophies.

“The individuals began discussing going on a ‘killing spree’ that included killing 88 people and beheading 14 African Americans,” according to an affidavit filed by Special Agent Brian Weaks of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “The numbers 88 and 14 have special significance within the ‘White Power’ movement.”

The two men had accumulated a sawed-off shotgun, pistols and a .308-caliber rifle and planned to attack an unnamed, predominantly black school and ultimately end with a daring attack on Obama.

“Schlesselman states that they planned to drive their vehicle as fast as they could toward Obama, shooting at him from the windows,” according to the affidavit. “Both individuals stated they would dress in all-white tuxedos and wear top hats during the assassination attempt. Both individuals further stated they knew they would and were willing to die during this attempt.” sic

An Obama spokeswoman traveling with the senator in Pennsylvania had no immediate comment.

Cowart and Schlesselman, who were arrested Wednesday in Crockett County, made initial appearances Monday in federal court in Memphis.

They remain in custody and have a detention hearing Thursday when a judge will determine whether a bond should be set.

“The allegations set forth in this Criminal Complaint are serious and will be treated as such, “ said Lawrence J. Laurenzi, acting U.S. Atty. for the Western District of Tennessee.

According to federal authorities, Cowart and Schlesselman planned to travel state to state to finance their killing spree with home invasions and to stockpile weapons by robbing federally licensed gun dealers.

Last Tuesday, armed with knives and handguns, they targeted a home in Bells just northwest of Jackson, but aborted the robbery plan when they encountered a dog in the backyard and two vehicles next to the house.

Later they went to a Wal-Mart in Brownsville where they bought food, nylon rope and two ski masks to use in their next home-invasion attempt or gun-store robbery, authorities said.

While in that area early Wednesday, Cowart used a .22-caliber pistol to shoot out a window at Beech Grove Church of Christ as he drove their car along Beech Grove Road.

Authorities said that after the men returned to the Bells area, they bought window chalk and wrote racially motivated words and symbols on Cowart’s vehicle, including a Swastika and the numbers 14 and 88.

The numbers apparently referred to the number of words in certain white supremacist and Nazi phrases.

The two were taken into custody by sheriff’s deputies later that night and turned over to federal authorities.

“It is critical that the alleged plot was interrupted,” said James Cavanaugh, Special Agent in Charge of ATF in Nashville. “We give credit to the deputies of Crockett and Haywood Counties. All forces of law enforcement have come together to stop this threat.”

The two men are charged with making threats against a major candidate for the office of president, conspiracy to rob a federal firearms licensee and possession of a sawed-off shotgun