How Cain won Florida

washingtonexaminer ^ | Sep 25, 2011 | Byron York

[MontaniSemperLiberi]

It wasn't fully clear at the time, but the political ground was shifting under Rick Perry's feet from virtually the moment he arrived here in Orlando for the Republican presidential debate and Florida GOP straw poll. Just how much the ground shifted wasn't apparent until early Saturday evening, when Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced the poll's results: Perry, and fellow leader Mitt Romney, and the rest of the Republican field finished far behind longshot winner Herman Cain.

.....

Perry made a big effort to win the straw poll, and a week before the voting, it appeared he would reap big benefits. He had the money, he had the organization, he had the endorsements. And Cain? The Georgia businessman received his first endorsement less than 24 hours before the voting, when Florida state Rep. Scott Plakon announced he was supporting Cain. "I met with [Perry and Romney], and they're both very good candidates," Plakon said later, "but I just couldn't get there. And my wife kept saying to me for days, what about Herman Cain?" One thing led to another, and Plakon sat down for a talk with Cain on Friday evening. The two hit it off, and 20 minutes later, Plakon recalls, "I shook his hand and said, 'I'm all in.'" Minutes after that, Plakon found himself introducing Cain before hundreds of loud, enthusiastic supporters. It was a good moment for both, but that was pretty much the extent of Cain's establishment support.

[itsahoot]

My iPad is to blame, I swear it changes words after I post. At least it sure seems that way.

[ilgipper]

Has anyone seen if the speech he gave Saturday at Presidency5 is available online anywhere? I have seen him live several times now, and every time is golden, but Saturday’s speech was a pure masterpiece. Being in the room with all the delegates, you could literally feel the room shifting to Cain. It was real, it was passionate, and it was powerful. I would love to watch it again.

[guardian_of_liberty]

Herman Cain is the MAN but needs your financial help.

I sent him $50 after the straw poll results were announced.

I hope a lot of other folks did the same.

[Antoninus]

To the Mushy Moronic Middle he’s a stout, bald, black guy who talks about boring stuff. You see the problem?

The problem is that you don't seem to be very observant. Cain is not at all "stout". He's also a sound-byte machine and very engaging--much moreso then technocrat Barry Obomba.

[Little Ray]

Cain is built like a fireplug or a longshoreman, not that it matters to sane people. Judge him by what he says he wants to do, and he’s the clear winner.

But Cain is not pretty, compared to Obama, Perry and Mittens. Unfortunately, that matters more than it ought to, at least to the clueless Middle.

As for being more engaging that Obama, I’m not sure its its that hard anymore. Obama is no Bill Clinton. Still, I LIKE Cain. He’s they guy I’m voting for in the Primary if he’s still in the running when it gets here. He’s the guy I’m donating to...

My biggest fear is that the ‘Pubbie field will rip itself apart going for the nomination and have nothing left with which to beat Obama.