Can Obama Overcome the Urkel Effect?

Barack Obama may conquer racial prejudice, but can he beat back America's nerdophobia?

Illustration by John Ueland for TIME

I am not at all concerned about the Bradley effect--the theory that secretly racist white people tell pollsters they'll vote for a black candidate like Barack Obama but will actually pull the lever for a white one like John McCain. The truth is that secretly racist white people happily vote for black candidates, listen to black musicians and laugh at black comedians to make themselves feel better about not having black friends. In fact, I once even tried to get all the way through Barbershop.

I am, however, deeply worried about the Urkel effect, which holds that voters leaning toward Obama...

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