Posted on 09/27/2011 6:37:03 AM PDT by Kaslin
Just before 6 PM Saturday, the remarkably efficient information loop known as Twitter exploded with the news that Herman Cain had won the straw poll in Florida. The (rounded) results were:
Cain 37 percent
Rick Perry 15
Mitt Romney 14
Rick Santorum 11
Ron Paul 10.5
Newt Gingrich 8.5
Jon Huntsman 2
Michele Bachmann 1
The conclusion of many of America's top political writers (in 140-character chunks) was, "that ringing sound you hear is the death knell of the six-week-old campaign of Texas Governor Rick Perry."
I pointed out, via that same Twitterverse, that six weeks previous Michele Bachmann had won the Iowa straw poll and received just one percent on Saturday. The life cycle of any bump Herman Cain receives as the result of this can be expected to end on or about October 29.
Earlier this month it was reported that, the Perry campaign, "confirms to the St. Petersburg Times that the Texas governor is all in" for the straw poll. The paper quoted campaign spokesman, Ray Sullivan saying "Gov. Perry is fully committed to participating in [the straw poll].
Yeah, well.
Neither Romney nor Bachmann worked the delegates very hard, but the conventional wisdom - continuing its unbroken string of fallibility - was that one of them would pick up supporters following Perry's weak performance in Thursday night's debate. They didn't. It went to Cain.
SIDEBAR
I proved once again that I don't know what I'm talking about when I wrote, immediately following the debate, that the three winners were Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, and Rick Perry.
This is why I am contemplating enrolling in ITT Tech to become a slip cover and drapery sales professional.
"Will you be wanting the contrasting piping on those cushions?"
END SIDEBAR
Nevertheless, Herman Cain did a great job in his speech to the delegates and they rewarded him with nearly 40 percent of the straw poll votes.
The aftershock in Twitter-dom was that win by Cain would, of course, mean that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie would change his mind about entering the race for President.
This, in spite of the fact that we are in the middle of watching what happens when a popular governor gets onto the national political stage. Gov. Perry is being pummeled on everything from HPV to in-state tuition for the children of illegal immigrants.
Perry's campaign is probably longing for the good old days when all they had to fend off were charges that he is wrong in his assertion that Social Security is a "Ponzi scheme."
According to a Quinnipiac University poll released about a month ago, Gov. Christie's approve/disapprove is evenly split at 46/47. Not exactly a launching pad for a national race.
And we don't know how Christie would perform in a debate when the issues range far outside those normally dealt with by even a Governor whose state is in both the New York and Philadelphia media markets.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting in this morning's paper that:
"Mr. Christie's aides say the governor hasn't budged from his months-long insistence that he won't enter the presidential fray, despite what one described as a 'relentless' stream of calls over the last week from prominent Republicans urging him to run."
As I write this on Sunday night, there have been no new national polls released since early last week, so we don't know what kind of bounce, if any, Herman Cain will get out of his Florida win.
On Sunday, Mitt Romney romped to an easy win in a straw poll that was held on Mackinac Island as part of the state's Republican Leadership Conference. According to the Detroit News
"Romney got 51 percent of the 681 ballots cast, followed by Perry with 17 percent and Cain with 9 percent.
"Rounding out the ballot were Rep. Ron Paul of Texas with 8 percent; Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota with 4 percent; former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia with 4 percent; former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania with 3 percent; and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman with 2 percent."
After the Republican won the Anthony Wiener seat in New York, University of Virginia's political science professor Larry Sabato Tweeted that neither polls nor special elections are predictive.
I responded that, nevertheless, it was always better to come in first than last both in polls and specials.
Cain/Rubio 2012!!! That is a winning ticket!
My sister is a teacher in Tennessee, which won "race to the top" money. She sees it as just a big hassle for teachers, and of no benefit to students. Part of the "Bureaucracy Justification" junk that Democrats love so dearly (makes them feel useful).
That ticket would be unbeatable.
As for the debate, the Luntz focus group was huge for Cain and catastrophic for Perry. If it’s at all accurate, Cain is moving BIG TIME and Perry is shriveling on the vine.
Cain/Rubio
Cain/West
Palin/Cain
Several very, very good options for a tremendous, all American presidential team who would, IMHO, also have a strong House and Senate majority...perhaps veto proof.
Then they would need to go about accomplishing the restoration and turn around. None of this playing nice with the4 dems. Our nation and the future of our kids and grandkids are at stake. Turn around on economy, on the border, with energy, foreign policy, in education, undoing all of the enviro laws and regulations that are strangling us. We can be good stewards and concervationists as conservatives...without teraing down the house to save a snail in the basement.
AMERICA AT THE CROSSROADS
http://www.jeffhead.com/crossroads.htm
I pray we take the right path, and believe here in 2012 that we will.
For what doth it profit a man if he picketh up the hispanic vote, and loseth that of his own base?
bkmk
born December 13, 1945 in Memphis, TN (Meets the Jus Soli Requirement)
Parents were
Luther Cain Jr., born March 16, 1925 in TN, died March 29, 1982 in Atlanta, GA
Lenora Davis, born July 27, 1925 in GA, died August 20, 2005 in Atlanta, GA
Both parents were US Citizens at the time of his birth (Meets the Jus Sanguinis Requirement)
Herman Cain is a NATURAL BORN CITIZEN
Barry Soetoro aka Barack Hussein Obama ISN'T!
bump
I like Newt Gingrich but man, does he have a pile of baggage. Michelle Bachmann has always been my favorite based on her performance and stands in the House, but she has faltered in the debates either from bad advice or a bad perception on her part. I don't care for Perry but her attack suggesting a political contribution enticed Perry to mandate HPV vaccinations blew it for me. It was just too petty when a far more important issue could have been raised.
We have great conservative candidates. Let's not let the media and establishment Repubics pick another John McCain.
Citizen Cain goes to Washington.
Well over the last 30 years we have heard candidates saying they are not a political insider, but those who make that claim are all careen politicians.
We have the genuine article with Herman Cain, he is here, he is now and he is genuine.
THIS IS INDEED THE "STOP ROMNEY" CANDIDATE. LET US UNITE NOW AND COALESCE BEHIND HERMAN...TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. LET'S TELL THE LIBERAL/SLANTED AGENDA-ED AMERICAN MASS MEDIA AND GOP FIXERS AND PROFESSIONAL ELITES AND RIGGERS TO SHOVE IT WHERE THE SUN AND EVEN FLASHES OF MERCURY AND VENUS DON'T SHINE.
Question more to all - why is all the interest in Palin/Cain and not Cain/Palin? Why would a small town mayor and half term governor have more POTUS cred than a successful CEO who’s been in the fight since the Clinton era?
Palin, Cain, Santorum, Bachman, West...none of them (and several others) would ever be the MSM "pick".
As it is, the latest Zogby poll has Cain leading the GOP field at 28%:
Cain: 28% Perry 18% Romney 17% Paul 11% Gingrich 6% Bachman 4% Santorum 2% Johnson 1%
Sarah will be considered second tier until the day she enters the race...then watch what happens.
In the mean time, Cain is climbing...and deservedly so, IMHO. If Sarah does not get in, he will have my vote over the others at this point.
If Sarah does get in, she has my vote and we will see what happens through the primaries. I think an unbeatable ticket would be:
Palin/Cain or Cain/Palin depending on the who is the nominee.
Also:
Cain/West...or the others you mentioned depending on how the primaries go.
If it is Cain, and Sarah does not get in...here's my vote for a slogan and poster for Cain:
Read my post 34. Depending on how the primaries go, I could easily and happily go either way.
Me too. Maybe even if she doe jump in! What wealthy Republicans are urging Christie to join the race? THAT is a very important question! And why? THAT is also an important question.
No wonder the wealthy Republicans (shadow governmnt?) wants Christie in there! He is more of the same! My Main Man is Cain! I am sick to death of career politicians!
Not having been a member of the professional political class is a huge, giant, humungous PLUS. Palin was a political figure but went after corruption regardless of said corrupt figure’s party affiliation.
I like her and Cain and that’s it. Christie is nauseating.
Men who win seldom choose VPs who outshine them! Look at John McCain!
Ive sent my contribution to the Cain Campaign.
The man only ask for 99 cents if you agree with him.....WE sent our check for a bit more.
I think Sarah is being unfair keeping all on the fence as to her run. I think it’s time she declare one way or another..BUT either way my vote will be CAIN
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