Racism Will Blunt Obama's Lead: Barkley

Baller-turn-pundit calls polls 'absolutely useless'

By Ambreen Ali, Newser User

Posted Oct 28, 2008 3:57 PM CDT

(Newser) – Charles Barkley has news for the experts predicting the Bradley effect won’t undermine Barack Obama’s lead. “The polls are absolutely useless,” the former NBA star says, anticipating a race “down to the wire.” While he concedes some whites will vote Democrat for “their financial situation,” the Obama-backer says they won’t cancel out racists who claim to support him, but won’t, the Raw Story reports.

“Seriously, most people who are racist, they're not going to answer the question correctly, either on a phone call or on camera,” Barkley—who said in 2006, “I was a Republican until they lost their minds”—told CNN’s Campbell Brown last night. “So I 100% believe the polls are flat-out useless.”

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Barkley predicts a close race as the Bradley effect kicks in on election night. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)

Obama is ahead in the polls, but Barkley says that lead will be compromised by racist voters. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Barkley concedes that some whites may vote for Obama for economic reasons. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)

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Part of Charles Barkley's interview with CNN's Campbell Brown. (NoLimitViewpoints)

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Racism Will Blunt Obama's Lead: Barkley