The Bradley Effect...

Last year...i completely wrote off the democrats cuz i flatly didn't think america was ready for 1. a female president and 2. a black president. this year, with the way the year has unfolded with the Palin choice and financial Armageddon, "change" looks a bit more promising. barring my personal political view and my tax infused voting style...i love the concept of Obama. the concept of a smart, coherent, forward thinking, black man that seemingly at this point represents an ability to adapt to modern times. and i quote "Barack Obama has prospered in this presidential campaign because of the steadiness of his temperament and the judicious quality of his decision making." - time magazine

however....let's not forget "the bradley effect"

the theory holds that voters have a tendency to lie to pollsters when they plan to vote for a white candidate instead of a black one. It was named after former Los Angeles mayor Tom Bradley, who was favored on the eve of the 1982 California governor's race but dropped a nail biter to his opponent, George Deukmejian. Some experts chalked up the skewed polling to a reticence to appear prejudiced - a notion bolstered by subsequent campaigns in which black candidates saw their leads evaporate in voting booths.....-TIME

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/13/obama.bradley.effect/

Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown said last week that he thinks the Bradley effect could cost Obama several battleground states -- and possibly the presidency.

Race "is still a problem in this country," Brown told CNN. "It goes away when there are other troubles that are more challenging, and right now, whether or not we survive in the economy is more challenging. But race could rear its ugly head. I just hope it doesn't before November 4."