"If you tell anyone I'm voting for Obama, I'll deny it".

This statement came from the mouth of a life-long Republican acquaintance of mine.

He has voted Republican his whole life and up until about 3 weeks ago, defended McCain anytime I brought up the presidential race. The other night though, he didn't argue with me. He got very quiet then said "I've been doing a lot of thinking here recently and I don't think I can vote for McCain. I'm going to vote for Obama."

He went on to explain that although he is a Republican and respects McCain, especially his military service - he knows in his heart that Obama will be the right choice for the country. We need a leader who will work with everyone, not a divisive president like Bush who will maintain the status quo.

I was nothing less than speechless, especially after all the heated arguments we've had fairly recently. I said I was very happy to hear he'd be voting for Obama and I know I was smiling from ear to ear. Then came the warning:

"If you tell anyone I'm voting for Obama, I'll deny it". He said his family and friends would never let him live it down so he isn't telling anyone.

I think there will be a lot of "closet" Obama voters on November 4th. A reverse Bradley-effect?

It's possible we may have a landslide.


:patriot:

I'm less inclined to believe that someone would say they'll vote for Obama, then suddenly decide in the voting booth that they can't bring themselves to do it. But I can see people, particularly died-in-the-wool Republicans saying they'll vote for McCain when they really intend to vote for Obama.

I even take my Obama magnet off my car when I park in certain areas.

There are very few signs out for the Pres race, only for state & local races.

I've suspected for a while that many, many will do the right thing but don't want to risk exposing themselves to flack.

I bet there is a lot of that this year. I totally believe that.

I hate calling it a "reverse Bradley-effect" because I have my doubts about the validity of the "Bradley effect" phenomenon on a large scale to begin with. But I think there will be plenty of cases of "stealth Obama votes" in areas in which people may believe such a vote would be socially unacceptable.

I believe your acquaintance is far from alone.

I'm going to use that term from now on. :hi:

that they're voting for a black man.

But a vote's a vote, as far as that goes.

I wasn't about to call him a coward though; it's good enough for me he's voting for Obama. Baby steps....

These type of voters are going to be very present in this election.

I am not familiar with that name.

Reverse Bradley effect = Yeldarb Effect.

Funny. :hi:

"I've decided what I'm going to do, Mom." I'm going to tell them I voted for McCain when I'm really voting for Obama." In grade school, it's all about following the crowd. I told him he'd make an awesome politician.

Life long, straight Republican ticket voter since 1936. Things are very much changing.

Think Wisconsin. Obama routinely outperformed the polls during the primaries.

Look what happend to the prominent republicans that have come out in favor of Obama publicly. Bill Buckley lost his job, Powell gets stereotyped, that female columnist from NRO (I forgot her name) gets death threats. Republicans are crazy! If I was a republican I wouldnt tell anyone I'm voting for Obama either! I'd get stabbed!

But, she doesn't read DU, so, her secret is safe with us right? ;)

That would BE soooooooo Shock & Awesome