Secret sentiments could turn election into liar's dice

Sitting quietly at their desks are an unknown number of discreet conservatives who surprise themselves as they mull their options. Appalled by Mr. McCain's erratic behavior, both in dealing with the financial crisis and his selection of an unsuitable running mate, they will quietly (and with considerable trepidation) vote for Mr. Obama.

Are they are worried about higher taxes, a premature withdrawal from Iraq and Mr. Obama's inexperience in matters executive? You betcha. But they do not want to vote for a divisive, anti-intellectual ticket headed by a man who, though they admire him, lately has made them embarrassed to be Republicans.

Should Mr. Obama win, it will be in part because some number of quiet, mostly white-collar men and women who speak Republican in public voted Democratic in private.

Whatever the final tally, Mr. Obama should not interpret his victory as a mandate. Many of the reverse Bradley votes won't be cast for Mr. Obama, but against a campaign turned ugly. They also will have been delivered with solemn prayers that Mr. Obama will govern as the centrist, pragmatic leader he is capable of being.

Kathleen Parker's syndicated column appears regularly in The Baltimore Sun. Her e-mail is [e-mail].