TIS,
I think we saw the "Bradley Effect" as recently as the Democratic primaries, where Obama was leading in the polls in Mass. and Ca. on primary morning, but Hillary won both handily. So mixed feelings about race still obviously exist for some people.
BUT, at this point, I don't think it will be enough to steer the election away from Obama.
It is interesting that we are hearing a lot about this and about whether white people will really go into the voing booth and pull the lever from the Obama camp. I think it is a strategy to innoculate people from having that problem. After last night's debate he solidified the notion that he can be the president, and with a month to go he needs to continue to appear "presidential," thus allowing the idea of his inevitability to become a reality.
