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October 31st, 2008
09:45 PM ET

The Bradley effect: Myth or real?


CNN's John King looks at whether the Bradley effect is fact or fiction.
Filed under: Barack Obama • John King • Race Gender & Politics • Race in America • Raw Politics • T1
soundoff (10 Responses)
  1. Barry Butts

    Arnold indorced John McCain today! Maria Schrivrer needs to indorce and speek for Barry Obama Now!

    October 31, 2008 at 11:02 pm |
  2. Doug Martin

    Interesting report regarding the so-called "Bradley Effect." However, I too am skeptical of it having been the case then and whether it might manifest itself now. I believe America has evolved beyond that.

    In fact, I believe the very premise of the report sells voters short. Here's a question: Both McCain's mother and Obama's mother are "White". So why is Obama considered "Black"? What's the rule on what makesa person "White" versus "Black"? Think carefully before answering that one on television.

    October 31, 2008 at 10:53 pm |
  3. kaycee matthew

    i honestly think the bradley effect and some other like ssues being raised are just unnecessary and irrelevant. what should be taken into consideration is what each candidates has to offer. its just as sen obama said, you have to choose between the old status quo or Change. and i strongly believe more people would prefer Change. Wouldnt you?

    October 31, 2008 at 10:33 pm |
  4. Mabel - VA

    I think that this "reverse" bradley effect scenario is idealistic. Even if there were enough black people in the US to only vote for Obama because he is black, they wouldn’t be able to win him the election by themselves nor offset the numbers of people who hold specific prejudices and chose Not to vote for him because he’s black.

    October 31, 2008 at 10:30 pm |
  5. judy

    I would hope we would be over all this and consider respecting each other no matter our color, race, ethnicity.

    October 31, 2008 at 10:30 pm |
  6. Pat

    Possible among white voters, but not Black voters. I hope this is a myth.

    October 31, 2008 at 10:25 pm |
  7. sue

    Let us pray that the "Bradley Factor" is no longer a factor, but I wonder if we are there. I am an Obama supporter and I am pleased with the polls as they stand right now. But I have my anxiety meter revved pretty high because of the undecided. I'm concerned. My father says he is undecided, but when I push him he just can't bear to say anything good about Obama. His reason? "McCain is more our heritage, don't you think"? That frightens me.

    October 31, 2008 at 10:23 pm |
  8. Bret Peters

    Yes it is out there. Not as much as 10 yrs. past. The overwhelming new voter, youth, and African American turn out will counter act the Bradley effect and most likely reverse it. It's about time that "ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL." becomes a reality not just a concept.

    October 31, 2008 at 10:09 pm |
  9. Gnosius

    The reverse Bradley effect will have a greater impact on election day. Many whites in the all-white communities of the rural America would not declare openly they might consider voting for a black man better prepared to be the next president than the old white guy. There are more chances whites who declared their support for McCain will actually check out the Obama box. If they were indeed opposed to the idea of voting for a black man they would have not declared to pollsters they were for Obama only to later vote for McCain. They would have just directly stated their support for McCain. As a matter of fact, all studies show there is no such thing as the "Bradley effect".

    October 31, 2008 at 10:08 pm |
  10. Rick TX

    Bill Clinton pointed out something yesterday that the News media is scared to talk about...."look at this diverse crowd of real Americans"...McCain played the wrong cards and only talked to one group of America. I feel that was his biggest mistake...not going after all of American. The evangelicals don't have the pool they use too.

    October 31, 2008 at 9:55 pm |
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