I'm not so sure about that. Romney's selling point has always been that he's a successful businessman who knows how the economy works and can get it doing again. But Cain can claim the same mantle.
Cain doesn't have the organization on the ground, but this is going to be a very unusual primary season because there are so many people who don't like one or the other frontrunner.
I'll be blunt. I was a Daniels supporter (which I know makes me a RINO establishment guys in the eyes of some here), but he chose not to run. After Perry's performances, I was becoming resigned to Romney being the nominee, and unlike some others here, I would vote for him over Obama despite misgivings.
But Cain is growing on me. Perry/Romney is a tough choice for me, but Cain/Romney is becoming a pretty easy one.
I have no problem with Cain. While I do not support his 999 plan because I oppose a new consumption tax, I think Cain is mostly a terrific conservative. Cain has debated well, and gets better and better dealing with the media. Additionally, Cain seems to intellectually get conservatism and is actually able to explain WHY conservative governance works.
Just the same, political analysts and insiders know exactly what is playing out. Romney's strategy here is completely transparent. Republican primary voters will go with the safer choice in the end. Once Perry is gone, there is no one remaining with the money and campaign infrastructure to challenge Romney. If Mitt is left with only Cain to compete with, his vastly superior cash advantage will be used to remind people that Cain is a political novice who hasn't won a single election and that America can't take a chance on someone who has not been tested politically.
And Mitt's team obviously figures they get a bonus out of this. By cozying up and speaking highly of Cain, they can use him to both knock Perry out and improve Romney's standing with conservatives by appearing to be supportive of and largely in agreement with the grass roots hero.