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Is Herman Cain Becoming Legitimate Contender?
The Iowa Republican ^ | 5/17/11 | Kevin Hall

Posted on 05/17/2011 7:11:45 AM PDT by justsaynomore

Most of the pundits do not believe Herman Cain has any chance of winning the GOP nomination. As is often the case, the pundits might be wrong. The Georgia businessman is showing signs that he just might be a force in the presidential race. Cain continues to win straw polls around the nation and was declared the winner of the first presidential debate. While tea party groups remain Cain’s base, his appeal is extending across the Republican spectrum.

Cain found plenty of interest among prominent Iowa Republicans Monday. He held private meetings with potential donors, was extremely well received at the State Capitol by Republican legislators, and shared a few minutes with Governor Branstad. That was followed by another very well received speech, as 90 likely caucus goers packed Smokey Row in Des Moines for a town hall meeting.

“Herman seems like the kind of guy that could win,” said businessman and farmer Wendell Eiklenborg following the event. “I’d like to see how he distinguishes himself from Judge Roy Moore on some issues, but I did like what he had to say.”

Iowans are noticing that Cain has a mixture of a lot of the qualities they are looking for in a candidate. The departure of Donald Trump gives Cain the exclusive edge of being the only businessman and non-politician in the race. Mike Huckabee’s decision not to run means Cain has little competition for the best communicator in the race. He has just as much Tea Party appeal as Michelle Bachmann.

Cain, like Huckabee, is a Baptist preacher. When asked during Monday’s town hall if Jesus Christ was his primary counselor, he quickly responded, “Yes”. Cain believes he will pick up some of the social conservative voters who backed Huckabee in 2008.

“I think the social conservatives might split into any number of candidates depending on who they want to support,” Cain told a gaggle of reporters Monday. “I think that my business background, my problem solving ability is what’s going to attract a lot of people. I am socially conservative, so I’ll probably pick up some of those but not necessarily all of them.”

Cain’s speech at last weekend’s Georgia GOP convention was interrupted by more than a dozen standing ovations. He spoke to a larger crowd and received much better response than his fellow Georgian Newt Gingrich. Although Gingrich is much better known, Cain believes he has an advantage over the former U.S. House Speaker.

“What distinguishes me from him is over 40 years of business experience, where he’s had over 40 years of political experience,” Cain said. “And I think over 40 years of business experience is resonating a lot more with people than simply having political experience. Knowing how Washington works isn’t necessarily an advantage. As a businessman going in, I don’t want to know how Washington works. I want to change Washington, D.C.”

Finally, perhaps more than any other candidate, Cain is naturally likeable and seems genuine. He is at ease while chatting with common Iowans. That is not the case with all the candidates. He also has a sense of humor and is able to tell jokes that aren’t scripted for him.

During the middle of his Q and A session at Smokey Row Monday, Cain interrupted himself and asked a man seated near him, “Are you gonna eat the rest of that sandwich?” It was an amusing, off-the-cuff moment that the crowd appreciated. “You can tell I like to have fun,” Cain said as the crowd chuckled.

Joyce Lutz, a retiree from Des Moines, says she will take her time to decide on a candidate, but impressed by Herman Cain. “I liked what he said,” Lutz said. “It was nice to hear that he’s a Christian. That’s a very positive thing.”

Cain is working hard to earn Iowans votes. He has a town hall meeting scheduled for Marshalltown on Tuesday, followed by a Linn County GOP chili cook-off in Cedar Rapids. He will return to the state Friday for the Pottawattamie County GOP’s fundraiser. On Saturday, Herman Cain will hold a rally in Atlanta to announce his official candidacy for the presidency. He remains a long shot, but no candidate has gained more momentum in the past few weeks that Cain. If that momentum continues, Cain very well might be able to win it all.

Photo by Dave Davidson


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Front Page News; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Iowa
KEYWORDS: 2012; 2012gopprimary; cain2012; hermancain; iowa; president
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To: NurdlyPeon

Well, the people I talk to are pretty specific, they love the idea of a non-politican in office. I don’t think it’s going to wear off.

They said that about the tea party too, LOL. By the way, I mean ‘specific DC political office’ experience - he has more than enough political acumen, as well as decades of executive experience. Being at an executive level in a business, as well as head of the NRA, as well as sitting on boards of directors IS political. I know, because my husband sits on local boards and it is politics all the time.


81 posted on 05/17/2011 9:24:47 AM PDT by justsaynomore ("Holding hands and singing kumbayah is not a foreign policy strategy!" - Herman Cain)
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To: justsaynomore

If I’m any indication, the answer is yes. When I first heard he was ‘in’, I passed over Cain news stories as of no real consequence. Following the debate I have been firmly in Cain’s camp, hoping and praying he can go all the way. Fwiw.


82 posted on 05/17/2011 9:27:08 AM PDT by Fantasywriter
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To: RockinRight

He could pull it off if he had the endorsement of Palin and Huckabee, and did something unconventional - pre-announce his preferred running mate. I’d suggest Bachmann or, alternatively, Pawlenty. That would coalesce the so-con and Tea Party forces behind one candidate and give that individual the boost needed to take on the Romney and Gingrich machines. I don’t think he can shepherd the necessary resources if the conservative vote is split among himself, Santorum, Pawlenty, Bachmann, Palin. Conservatives need a champion or the GOP will simply follow its tradition of electing the individual who is considered “next in line” because of their performance in a previous primary or because of their name. Goldwater was the last unconventional GOP nominee. Since his defeat in 1964, the GOP has gone for the safe choice every time, with one exception - Reagan 1980. The safe choice failed against Clinton (Dole) and Obama (McCain), and will likely fail agaisnt Obama in 2012.


83 posted on 05/17/2011 10:02:48 AM PDT by littleharbour
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To: SpringtoLiberty

>>> And, might I add, I DO have the authority to abolish the Fed. I am an American and this is my country not the Fed’s. It’s just a matter of getting several million of my closest friends to agree with me. And, after the last decade or so of theft at the most gigantic of porportions I see that many of my fellow citizens are starting to come around.>>>

Well how nice of you to admit that one man can’t do it. So, two questions:
A: you’ll let us know when you get it abolished, right? I’d hate to miss it.
B: is it ok if we have some strong dollar conservatives on the Fed until you get it abolished? Or should we make sure the Fed can do the most damage possible until you finish your task? Just sayin......


84 posted on 05/17/2011 10:20:19 AM PDT by C. Edmund Wright (American Thinker Columnist / Rush ghost contributor)
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To: C. Edmund Wright

What a completly flippant response.

I expected more.


85 posted on 05/17/2011 10:27:25 AM PDT by SpringtoLiberty (Liberty is on the march!)
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To: justsaynomore

No he is not. Unfortunate but true. Making a lot of money selling crappy pizza does not lead to the White House. I would vote for him ten times over Urkel but he is an amateur.


86 posted on 05/17/2011 10:38:11 AM PDT by arrogantsob (Why do They hate her so much?)
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To: Kartographer

Honkeys for Herman!


87 posted on 05/17/2011 10:44:15 AM PDT by BenKenobi
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To: arrogantsob

LOL!

He didn’t just “sell pizza”, he was brought into a company on the verge of bankruptcy, turned it around, and then led a team to buy out the company. He went on to head the National Restaurant Association and more.

Oh, and this was after he turned around failing region of Burger King, worked for the Dept of the Navy for 6 years as a Mathmetician, worked his way up in Coca Cola and more... He has a degree in Math and a MA in Physics.

You make him sound like an pizza delivery boy.

One of the best articles I’ve seen detailing his experience I’ve seen:

http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/267029/introducing-herman-cain-robert-costa


88 posted on 05/17/2011 10:53:50 AM PDT by justsaynomore ("Holding hands and singing kumbayah is not a foreign policy strategy!" - Herman Cain)
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To: justsaynomore

You are doing a super job of countering all of the naysayers about Cain without doing what so many of the supporters of other candidates are doing -— tearing anyone down.

I don’t think Mr. Cain is “becoming” a legitimate candidate, I’ve thought he was for quite some time. I’m not ruling others out yet because I think it’s way too early, but I like what I’ve read and heard of and by him.


89 posted on 05/17/2011 11:12:14 AM PDT by Gabz (Democrats for Voldemort.)
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To: Gabz

Thank you, Gabz. I’m a big believer that if a candidate should stand on their own merits there is no need to mudsling.

The only exception I’ve made is Trump, because I thought (and still think) he was a wolf in conservative clothing :-) But I do like that he made BO show his BC


90 posted on 05/17/2011 11:22:59 AM PDT by justsaynomore ("Holding hands and singing kumbayah is not a foreign policy strategy!" - Herman Cain)
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To: justsaynomore

Herman Cain is totally admirable from everything I have seen but he is like the terrific pitcher in a Park League expecting to be an instant phenom in the Big Leagues. Americans elect their presidents from professional politicians mainly who have had long careers in politics. The exceptions were all War winning generals: Washington (both actually), Harrison, Taylor, Grant, Ike, even Garfield was a general and Teddy a Colonel.

“Pizza delivery boy”? When I said “making a lot of money...”? Even in Oak Park the delivery boys don’t make a lot of money. He sounds like a business genius but that does not translate into winning the White House or even the Senate apparently.

I wish he would move to Illinois and run for the Senate in ‘12 against the dog we have, Dumb Dick Durbin.


91 posted on 05/17/2011 11:41:56 AM PDT by arrogantsob (Why do They hate her so much?)
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To: screaminsunshine

Get rid of RINO’s and Bible Thumpers.


92 posted on 05/17/2011 11:56:23 AM PDT by Diggity
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To: ASA Vet

Not only those base requirements, I understand he was in the military, navy 7 years. He is also college educated with tech degrees along with extensive business experience and smarts. With West or Palin as a running mate, the people of the USA would certainly have an all-American team for POTUSA.


93 posted on 05/17/2011 12:03:44 PM PDT by noinfringers2
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To: RockinRight

Bwahaha!! I’m glad to be aboard the Cain Train with you. :)


94 posted on 05/17/2011 12:10:56 PM PDT by Politicalmom
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To: justsaynomore

You’re more restrained than I am. These creeps who are reducing Cain to a “pizza guy” and who are following the Ron Paul talking points make me nuts.

Keep it up. I’m trying to put together some good Cain documentation, but my life has been too crazy lately. :)


95 posted on 05/17/2011 12:24:44 PM PDT by Politicalmom
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To: arrogantsob

How about spending a lot of money making crappy policies?


96 posted on 05/17/2011 12:30:44 PM PDT by RockinRight (Yes We Cain!)
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To: justsaynomore

Herman Cain’s academic accomplishments ALONE make Obama look like a kid who barely passed gym class.


97 posted on 05/17/2011 12:32:45 PM PDT by RockinRight (Yes We Cain!)
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To: All
ROCK YOU LIKE A HERMAN CAIN!

http://www.facebook.com/drivebyshirtings

98 posted on 05/17/2011 12:42:21 PM PDT by boss man
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To: justsaynomore

Cain is good on everything except for the Federal Reserve and bailouts.


99 posted on 05/17/2011 1:42:01 PM PDT by Brett11
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To: justsaynomore

If Cain pulls this off this will be the flow of media comments in order:

“He’s doing well in polls, but he won’t be able to do it.”

“He came in second in FL but he won’t be able to do it.”

“He won SC but he won’t win in XXXX”

“Holy sh*t he won the nomination! Still won’t beat Obama though.”

“He’s got a 2 point lead in the head-to-head, but this commentator believes that in the privacy of the booth, voters will go with the devil they know over the devil they don’t, and Obama will be re-elected.”

“This is a Fox News Alert...Herman Cain has won the state of Florida, and that gives him 27X electoral votes, which means he has defeated President Barack Obama.


100 posted on 05/17/2011 1:44:50 PM PDT by RockinRight (Yes We Cain!)
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