Role of Race in the Elections

I just got done watching one of the zillion shows on the upcoming Presidential elections. This particular one was on CNN and was moderated by John King. King was discussing how close the electoral college math was, and in one – albeit remote possibility – scenario, both candidates had 269 electoral votes, and Congress would be called up on to choose the President.

What surprised me most was that there was no discussion on the role of race in the election! Here are some recent polls that provide insight on the role of racism:

From a Aug 2008 Gallup Poll – 56 percent of the national adults polled said that racism was widespread against blacks in America.
A Yahoo-AP poll suggests that 2.5 percent of White Democrats may not vote for Obama, only because Obama is African American. A third of the White American Democrats polled also showed negative feelings/emotions towards African Americans, and only 58% of them said that they would vote for Obama.
Another Gallup Poll from June 2008 indicates that 12% of White Americans and 22% of African Americans believe that race will be a factor when they go to the polls. And this is just the people who are willing to admit to the poll-taker that they have a racial bias.
In a Washington Post – ABC News from June 2008 Poll, 3 in 10 Americans were willing to admit to some racial bias.

In most recent polls, the edge that Obama has over McCain is much smaller than the racial bias within the electorate. Yet, most pundits seem unwilling to discuss the race issue, and its role in the upcoming elections. Early in the campaign, Obama said that he did not want this election to be about race. He had to say that, as a politician. But I am surprised that news organizations so studiously avoid the elephant in the room!!




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