Posted on 06/07/2011 2:56:38 PM PDT by iowamark
IOWA CITY – Herman Cain is still in single digits in presidential preference polls of Republicans after 19 trips to Iowa, but the Georgia businessman says he’s picking up support with every trip.
“We look at the polls as a barometer and we want the temperatures to be going up. Right now they are moving up in the right direction,” Cain said June 6 before speaking at the University of Iowa as part of The Family Leader’s Presidential Lecture Series.
He’s encouraged by what he called a redefinition of the nation’s political dynamics as political parties and grass roots groups such as Americans for Prosperity, Focus on the family and the socially conservative Family Leader mobilize their members to get involved in the presidential nomination process.
“That gives someone like me without name ID as high as some of the others, without the same amount of money as some of the others, it really gives us a chance, so I think that’s why we’re moving up,” Cain said.
Cain is banking on making a good impression in Iowa.
“This is where the real vetting goes on,” Cain said. “People in Iowa ask good, informed questions. They’re very informed. I’m happy to be here and delighted to have the opportunity to meet and get more people to know who I am.”
Audience members seemed happy to get to known him even in they weren’t ready to commit to becoming one of Cain’s “defending fathers.”
“He’s a good guy,” Mark Decker of Iowa City said after the hour-long speech and question-and-answer session. He’s looking for a candidate who is electable, “but I don’t know who that is.”
“He’s an entertaining candidate,” said UI College Republican Natalie Ginty. “He’s not your establishment Republican.”
Cain might be a long-shot just because he would be the first major party nominee since Dwight Eisenhower without previous experience in elected office. That shouldn’t disqualify Cain, Decker added.
“He’s certainly as qualified as (Barack) Obama was,” he said.
Cain, 65, downplayed his lack of experience in elected office, saying that knowing how to solve problems is not unique to elected official. He also touted his experience as president of the National Restaurant Association. That group includes large restaurant chains as well and mom-and-pop diners, is ethnically diverse and, as a group, is the second-largest employer in the nation, he said.
Cain was “refreshing,” according to Phil Hemingway, also of Iowa City. He was impressed by the former Godfather’s Pizza CEO’s credentials.
“He’s done something. He’s somebody who has accomplished something,” Hemingway said.
His wife, Anita, appreciated hearing from “someone who believes what you think should be done.”
Their daughter, Monica, who will be a first-time voter in 2012, appreciated Cain’s plans on eliminating the nation’s debt and deficit “rather than just keep boosting it.”
Still, none of the Hemingways were ready to commit to Cain.
The family heard U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann earlier and plans to come July 11 when former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is The Family Leader’s guest.
Attending the lectures has allowed Anita Hemingway to eliminate at least one candidate, but she declined to say which one.
“We’re just blessed to have the opportunity to come and here the candidates,” Phil Hemingway said.
“He has a lot of good ideas,” said Joe Abdo of Iowa City, who had never heard Cain speak before. Answers to the nation’s challenges “aren’t as simple as a 30-minute speech.”
Abdo attended the lecture because he’s interested in who will be the next president and said he will probably attend Gingrich’s lecture, too.
Ginty has attended several campaign events as well as the previous Family Leader-sponsored lectures as well as other campaign events. She plans to attend future lectures.
“The more people candidates who come, the better the discussion,” she said.
Can you imagine if Palin said this? lol
Can’t wait to see who Iowa thinks our candidate should be.
I’m loving Herman Cain.
Indeed — my first thought was, “The guy’s a scientific genius!” /s
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