Dictionary definition of “Bradley effect”

Bradley effect

n. the difference between the number of people who vote for a black candidate and those who say they will or would. Subjects: English, Politics, Race

Editorial Note: The first citation is a nonce usage that refers to Bill Bradley, Democratic senator from New Jersey, instead of to Tom Bradley, former Democratic mayor of Los Angeles.

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Citations: [1984 New York Times (Oct. 31) “For the 99th Congress”: The Bradley Effect in New Jersey…In states where a tide seems to be running for President Reagan, Democratic candidates worry about the coattail effect on their races. In New Jersey, Democrats feel the protection of a reverse effect: Senator Bill Bradley. Though just finishing his first term, Senator Bradley has achieved an extraordinary popularity rating that approaches 70 percent.] 1989 Gary Langer @ New York (Associated Press) (Nov. 8) “Election Poll Problems: Did Some Voters Lie?”: In Virginia, “I think a lot of people cast their votes on race, and it’s something that’s not easily measured by polls,“ said pollster Brad Coker. “People are not going to freely admit they’re racists to strangers.“ The theory even has a name: “The Bradley effect,“ for Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, a black Democrat who led in the polls in his 1982 race for governor only to lose narrowly to his white opponent, George Deukmejian. 2002 Buffalo News (New York) (Jan. 20) “Does McCall Have A Chance?” p. H1: Virtually all of the undecided white Democrats and Independents broke for the GOP candidate. Pollsters began to call this phenomenon—white voters who tell interviewers they are undecided and then vote 10-1 against a black candidate—the “Bradley effect.“ 2006 Ellis Cose Newsweek (Oct. 30) “The ‘Bradley Effect’”: The phenomenon was first widely noted in 1982, when Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley lost a squeaker of a race for governor after being widely projected as the winner. Douglas Wilder also came up against the “Bradley Effect” when he barely won the 1989 contest for governor of Virginia, after leading comfortably in the polls.

Posted 6 Nov 06 | Permalink | Tell a Friend

Reader comments:

I am very interested and concerned about this with this election: Obama. I saw Michelle Obama on Larry King tonight, she feels the Braeley Effect
is from decades ago, and that we’ve come a long way with race. I agree to a point, but I do think there will be some who will not admit who they will really vote for. I don’t think it’s so much his race as his Muslem connections. It’s going to be interesting for sure.

I do admire Mr Obama for his putting so much on the line, including his life, because there is a risk of being hurt form White supremist.
I dream of a day when this fades like slavery..
I am not a Black. I am part of the greatest race of all: THE HUMAN RACE.

by Jill Michrina 09 Oct 08, 0548 GMT

And conversely you don’t think there is any racism involved in the fact that MANY blacks are voting FOR Obama simply cause he IS black?

So, If I vote white against a black based on my REPUBLICAN agenda I am still ergo a white supremist.

Marvelous in-depth thought process you have there.

by Mike 21 Oct 08, 0823 GMT

Defenitly racism exists. This factor will reflect the voting result.Most of the voters they won’t reveal what they are thinking inside,inorder to please or camofalgue their opinion, they may say differently. Moreover republican camp seems to be successfull in raising seroius doubts in the minds of independent voters aganist Obama with his assocaition of terrorists and radicals and his executive inexperience. In a democratic election, it influence many factors including race and relegion.

by BABBY KURIAN 25 Oct 08, 0417 GMT