Racial Prejudice and the Michigan Vote

Regardless of polls predicting an Obama win in Michigan, including a Pollster.com poll that has Obama leading McCain in Michigan 48.3% to 44%, there may be a hidden wrinkle affecting the margin of error: prejudice. Let's face it, it is politically incorrect to site race as a factor when choosing your presidential candidate, which means there are undoubtedly voters out there, including traditionally Democratic voters, who may say they are voting for Obama in a face-to-face poll but vote for McCain in the privacy of the voting booth. This is a cynical point of view to be sure, but will it be a significant factor in the election's outcome in Michigan? If so, how much will hidden racial prejudice affect the ultimate result?