Herman Cain leaving the campaign trail: Why now?

Christian Science Monitor ^ | October 3, 2011 | David Grant

[Polybius]

Herman Cain leaving the campaign trail: Why now?

Herman Cain is surging in popularity in a number of polls. So why is Herman Cain putting his campaign on hold for the next month?

The Hermantor Experience is, by almost any measure, the hottest thing going in the GOP presidential primary (not named Chris Christie).

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But Cain seems destined to squander it. And here’s why.

As NBC’s thoughtful First Read points out this morning, Cain's promoting a book - and appears to be taking himself off the campaign trail for almost a month.

Cain won’t be back in the key state of Iowa until November. With all of the jiggering of the Republican primary calendar, that means he’ll have six weeks (at best) to pound the trail before the Iowa caucuses in early January.

Perhaps equally telling, Cain's well-regarded communications director and her deputy are both leaving the campaign, with the director headed to… run press operations for Louisiana Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne in a tough primary election. That’s not exactly a vote of confidence in Cain’s presidential prospects.

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When you peel off the campaign trail for four weeks in the heat of the fight, it raises questions about just what the heck a candidate is doing in the race anyway. ....

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When you take yourself off the campaign trail just to flog a book, it raises the question: Why are you still around, Herman Cain? And what’s the real motive behind this run?

[llandres]

For about the millionth time, Herman’s answered the question regarding Perry’s lodge on virtually every show/network. He said he absolutely doesn’t think Perry’s a racist, nor did he ever intend to imply that - just that the N word is insensitive and he questions why the sign wasn’t painted over many years earlier than it was.

This tempest in a teapot is (IMHO) just another attempt by the DBM to create a distraction from the real issues and try pitting the GOP candidates against one another or discredit the frontrunners to the public, and it’s not working.

[truthfreedom]

No, young people are less dependent on government.

Young people support Ron Paul.

Old people don’t want change, Romneyperry does not mean any kind of change at all. Old people just want their government checks to keep coming, and Ron Paul worries them.

There really isn’t any debate about that. I’m suprised that you didn’t get that memo.

The defense industries take the taxpayers money and spend it. Old people don’t care as long as everything pretty much stays the same.

Young people understand they’re getting ripped off. They support Ron Paul.

Women like government more than men. Women want government to take care of them. Men do not. Ron Paul is more popular with men than women.

The people who do not like government and want less of it are Ron Paul supporters.

[llandres]

“No, young people are less dependent on government.”

I didn’t mean young people feel dependent on government - their generation, more than any other, IS dependent (for a much longer time) on Mom and Dad. They feel entitled in many ways - large numbers still live at home (rent-free) even as adults. And thanks to government/Obamacare, they can now stay on Mom and Dad’s health insurance until well after college (age 26).