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Raising Cain
Townhall.com ^ | September 26, 2011 | Rich Galen

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.


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: cain2012
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1 posted on 09/27/2011 6:37:04 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Cain Is Able !


2 posted on 09/27/2011 6:41:19 AM PDT by sushiman
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To: Kaslin

No Cain, No Gain!


3 posted on 09/27/2011 6:43:29 AM PDT by bolobaby
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To: Kaslin
If Cain continually pounds Perry on his soft immigration stances, he may just have a chance.

Illegal-Immigration policies and stances, more than anything could keep Perry out of the White House.

4 posted on 09/27/2011 6:43:41 AM PDT by TexasCajun (Fast & Furious , Solyndra & Light Squared would be enough to impeach any White President !!)
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To: Kaslin

Would a Christie entry hurt Romney and Perry more than Cain?


5 posted on 09/27/2011 6:43:49 AM PDT by HapaxLegamenon
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To: sushiman

If Palin doesn’t jump in I’m on The Cain Train. If she does I’d like to see her pick Cain as her running mate. See the tagline.


6 posted on 09/27/2011 6:44:59 AM PDT by numberonepal (Palin/Cain 2012)
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To: Kaslin

I’ve sent my contribution to the Cain Campaign.


7 posted on 09/27/2011 6:45:35 AM PDT by FormerLib (Sacrificing our land and our blood cannot buy protection from jihad.-Bishop Artemije of Kosovo)
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To: HapaxLegamenon

I think so. Some would stray from Cain and Perry, but most would stray from Romney.


8 posted on 09/27/2011 6:46:02 AM PDT by justice14 ("stand up defend or lay down and die")
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To: Kaslin
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.

This is why I take punditry with little faith. Herman Cain is not Michelle Bachmann, Perry Romney, et al. He's the one non-politician of the bunch, the most plain spoken, upfront, entertaining and open of the bunch. People are now just starting to notice him, thanks to a MSM that is in the tank. You simply can't apply these other's political ups 'n downs to him (unless, of course, he stumbles big time).

9 posted on 09/27/2011 6:46:04 AM PDT by bcsco (Take a Cain - and cure the Pain!)
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To: Kaslin

The field is narrowing.....but then again, it could widen with new people getting into the race. Next month will tell. I think that Michele Bachmann will drop out. It seems she is somewhat out of her league. One thing I noticed about her in the last debate, when talking about Perry, she wouldn’t look him in the eye. I don’t like that.


10 posted on 09/27/2011 6:46:32 AM PDT by RC2
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To: Kaslin
If Cain continually pounds Perry on his soft immigration stances, he may just have a chance.

Illegal-Immigration policies and stances, more than anything could keep Perry out of the White House.

11 posted on 09/27/2011 6:47:40 AM PDT by TexasCajun (Fast & Furious , Solyndra & Light Squared would be enough to impeach any White President !!)
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To: Kaslin
This is why I am contemplating enrolling in ITT Tech to become a slip cover and drapery sales professional.

Go for it Rich. I'm tired of guys like you telling us what to think.

12 posted on 09/27/2011 6:51:51 AM PDT by Carry_Okie (GunWalker: Arming "a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as well funded")
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To: Kaslin

Latest Zogby Poll
http://www.ibopezogby.com/news/2011/09/26/ibope-zogby-poll-perry-plummets-18-trails-cain-lead-among-gop-primary-voters/

Cain 28%
Perry 18%
Romney 17%
Paul 11%
Gingrich 6%
Bachman 4%
Santorum 2%
Johnson 1%

It’s time to beat Obama with a Cain...Herman Cain! LOL!


13 posted on 09/27/2011 6:56:54 AM PDT by Jeff Head (Liberty is not free. Never has been, never will be. (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
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To: Kaslin

Why would anyone think people who like what Cain stands for would be interested in Christy? Christy is soft on immigration, supports the ground-zero mosque, refused to support the 26-state suit against Obamacare (would only cost the state of NJ $1,000 to do so so his excuse that he is just trying tosave the state money is BS), supports gun control, supports ‘the race to the top’ and believes in man-made climate change. Christy needs to stay in NJ.


14 posted on 09/27/2011 6:57:08 AM PDT by caper gal 1 (Cain/Rubio 2012)
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To: numberonepal

I’m with you 100% at this point. If Sarah jumps in and vaults to the top, then a Plain/Cain ticket, IMHO, would be unbeatable.

I also believe, if Cain continues to hold his own, that he himself would handily defeat Obama, with a suitable VP candidate on the ticket.

Latest Zogby Poll
http://www.ibopezogby.com/news/2011/09/26/ibope-zogby-poll-perry-plummets-18-trails-cain-lead-among-gop-primary-voters/

Cain: 28%
Perry 18%
Romney 17%
Paul 11%
Gingrich 6%
Bachman 4%
Santorum 2%
Johnson 1%

My Letter to Herman Cain
http://www.jeffhead.com/hcain.htm


15 posted on 09/27/2011 7:00:32 AM PDT by Jeff Head (Liberty is not free. Never has been, never will be. (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
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To: Kaslin

On the Cain Train and sent to the campaign!!!


16 posted on 09/27/2011 7:03:07 AM PDT by Eagle of Liberty (Shaking My Head on a daily basis)
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To: Kaslin

For those that believe Cain is disqualified because he lacks political experience, consider the following:

First, Cain took on the Clintons, nationally, over HillaryCare. You can find videos of his debate with Clinton all over.

Second, Cain has been a radio talk show host recently where he discusses the political issues of the nation. He probably has a better grasp on the issues than politicians who only get their news from the alphabet networks and the NY Slimes/Washington Compost.

Third, just search for Cain’s video clips about racism, the Democrat Plantation and other issues. Tell me he could not go toe-to-toe with a politician when he is also doing it in these debates.

I think anyone who dismisses Cain is only fooling themselves.


17 posted on 09/27/2011 7:05:48 AM PDT by Erik Latranyi (Cain for President - Because I Like The Content of His Character!)
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To: numberonepal
"If Palin doesn’t jump in I’m on The Cain Train. If she does I’d like to see her pick Cain as her running mate."

That's where I am. I'm a tad worried that Cain has not been vetted much, and that down the road we could find some skeletons spilling out, but I definitely like what I see and hear. On top of which, Herman is just fun.

18 posted on 09/27/2011 7:14:04 AM PDT by cookcounty (2012 choice: It's the Tea Party or the Slumber Party.)
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To: sushiman

“Cain Is Able !”

Gee, where have I heard that? hmmmmmm

;)


19 posted on 09/27/2011 7:16:09 AM PDT by dynachrome ("Our forefathers didn't bury their guns. They buried those that tried to take them.")
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To: DarthVader; justsaynomore; Prov3456; paul revere is riding; Politicalmom; freedumb2003; ...

FRmail me to get on or off the Herman Cain ping list

Herman Cain for President

Facebook

Twitter

Join Team Cain - Become An ACTIVE Supporter-- FRMail Me


20 posted on 09/27/2011 7:17:23 AM PDT by kingattax (99 % of liberals give the rest a bad name)
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