Friend, as much as I like and admire Herman Cain, he has never won elective office, and actually lost a statewide race some years ago. He's got private sector executive experience, but he's never proved himself in the crucible of an executive government position.
Frankly, he's a newcomer to the political scene, and hasn't been involved in national politics long enough for anyone to truly know how he'd really govern, or whether he'd always make the wisest choices as president. As an executive, he's never had to deal with anything like two co-equal branches of government, who can effectively stop him.
Palin, on the other hand, has this experience, and in her time in office, was very successful and effective. She's got twenty years of experience as an elected government official, so she knows how to work within a governmental structure. Cain? Who knows?
I might also add that Cain has only recently piqued the interest of voters, and hasn't established that he's got the staying power to remain important or influential in American politics. He simply hasn't been a part of national politics long enough to know whether he'll implode next week, or next month. Maybe he'll gain even more traction with the American public, and become a statesman of concrete relevance and high value to the nation. Again - it's too early to tell.
All I know at this time, is that he's gained sudden popularity, and that he's saying a lot of things that Americans want to hear. That's all I know, which isn't enough for me to want to see him elected president.
Thanks, but I'll take Palin. She's been vetted more thoroughly than any political figure living memory, and is squeaky clean. Not only that, she's got the conservative orientation and the qualifications I need and want in a president.
Palin 2012