Non-Iksar Necro

[Arakash]

I've read lots of posts about Iksar being the best min/max choice for necromancer and it seems that, because of their racial regen, this is the case.
That being so, is there a consensus on the 2nd best choice for a necromancer? Not aesthetically speaking, but from a min/max perspective. If you just can't bring yourself to roll an Iksar (because of their tails or whatever ) what is the next best race for a Necro for leveling up and possible raid encounters?
I've been playing an Erudite, but gnomes seem so much creepier and they do seem to have some advantages.
I've seen quite a few human and dark elf necros. Do people play those races just for aesthetics or is there some sort of racial advantage?