Bradley Effect / Stereohyped

» Bradley Effect? What Bradley Effect

In the months preceding the election, there was a lot of talk of the "Bradley Effect" — white voters telling pollsters they're voting for the black guy when they really end up voting for the white guy. It struck fear in the hearts of many an Obama supporter who felt that their candidate's lead in the polls couldn't be believed. As it turns out, it could. All of the pre-election polls, both national and statewide, were generally accurate. "I certainly hope this drives a stake through the heart of that demon," Charles Franklin, a University of Wisconsin political scientist and polling authority, told the AP.

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Threadbare

Is The Bradley Effect Dead?

Wherein you, the readers, talk amongst yourselves.

People are wondering if what happened to Tom Bradley during the 1982 California Governor's race – a lot of people said they were going to vote for the black candidate, but then didn't — will happen to Barack Obama next month. Despite the objections of polling experts, many people believe that the Bradley Effect will be in full effect come election day. Do you?

Oct 22, 2008 · posted by Lauren Williams, Stereohyped · Link · 8 Responses

» The Bradley Effect vs. The Obama Effect

Donna Brazile on the Bradley Effect: "It is those in the middle, the ever-elusive swing voters, who will determine the next four years of our collective future. I may be jaded after too many years in this bloodsport we call "politics," but I am not so jaded as to believe the worst of the American people. I believe the vast majority of Americans view this election for what it is: a referendum on the future of our nation, not a popularity contest to be decided on race or gender or age. Far more disturbing than the possibility of the Bradley Effect altering the results of this election is the possibility that it will be used to create a cultural and racial backlash in explaining otherwise inexplicable voting irregularities or horrible polling samples." [CNN]

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Parting Shots

Amy Crackhouse

• Amy Winehouse has hair from the '60s and drug habits from the '80s. And she also just checked herself into a mental health facility. [MG]

• Proving that it ain't just the white females celebs with the major problems, Heath Ledger was found dead in a NYC apartment owned by Mary-Kate Olsen. Pills were found in the vicinity of the bed. R.I.P. [Jossip]

• Americans are more ready for a black president than a female one blah blah blah Bradley Effect blah blah blah. [LAT]

• For the presidential candidates, "black" equals "poor." [NPR]

• Two reasons why Lil Jon should always keep his sunglasses on. [C&D]

Jan 22, 2008 · posted by Lauren Williams, Stereohyped · Link · 18 Responses

Obamarama

Foiled By The Bradley Effect?

Ever hear of the Bradley Effect? It's a phenomenon named after Tom Bradley, a black L.A. mayor who ran for governor in 1982. Although polls showed him far ahead of his white competition, he ended up losing. The same thing happened in 1989, when the victory of black governor Douglas Wilder was much, much closer than polls projected it would be, and in 1990, when Harvey Gantt, who was ahead in the polls, lost by four points to Sen. Jesse Helms. The theory is that white people don't want to admit that they aren't supporting the black candidate in polls, although they have no such reservations when it actually comes to voting.

Is this what happened with Barack Obama last night? Across the board, the polls showed Obama had a comfortable lead over Hillary Clinton. After the votes were tallied, this turned out not to be the case. Experts have been warning people about this phenomenon as far back as May, but, nevetheless, people who make a living out of political polls are stumped.

CONTINUED »

Jan 9, 2008 · posted by Lauren Williams, Stereohyped · Link · 12 Responses