Herman Cain Considers Senate Campaign

African American Republican Leadership Council (AARLC) ^

[Amish]

According to the African American Republican Leadership Council (AARLC):

http://www.aarlc.org/weblog/index.shtml

2004 Election Update Herman Cain, CEO of Godfather's Pizza, is considering a run for retiring Senator Zell Miller's seat in Georgia. Only one Republican, Rep. Johnny Isakson, has declared so far.

What an exciting candidate he would be:

http://www.hermancain.com/

[TatieBug]

This would be great if he would run and we're working on Larry Elder, black from South Central, radio talk show host 790 am, TV, attorney, great books, to run against Boxer for the Senate seat in CA...how sweet it would be for this to all be true!

[GraniteStateConservative]

Well, that would be interesting to say the least.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Does anyone know more about Mr. Cain's philosophy ? From the little I've heard of his voice, he sounds like a very powerful speaker. If he is a solid Conservative and Jack Kingston refuses to enter the Senate race, Mr. Cain could be a great candidate (and self-financing to boot, always a plus !). If Thurbert Baker gets the 'Rat nod, Cain might be exactly who we're looking for. Your comments are appreciated. :-)

[Pubbie]

I know nothing of this guy.

I prefer Kingston over anyone in Georgia, even Ralph Reed (Who has said repeatedly he won't run).

I prefer an experienced campaigner like a Kingston over a complete novice, which is what you get with a Cain or Mel Martinez, especially when it comes to running a Senate campaign.

Sometimes a novice can be a surprise success, but usually you end up with a Bill Simon guy who blunders terribly throughout the campaign due to inexperience.

[Theodore R.]

Kingston has another advantage: he is a native Texan, and that would give TX three Republican senators!!!!! Of course, Phil Gramm was a native Georgian too.

[Pubbie]

Well Hurrah! They raise good Conservative Republicans in Texas. :)

Now if they can just do something about Connecticut, I'd be in GOP heaven :(

[fieldmarshaldj]

You do have a point, but we'll have to go to "Plan B" if Kingston doesn't declare soon. Isakson is simply unacceptable. BTW, complete novices are not necessarily at a disadvantage as long as they have money. Here in TN, Bill Frist was an utter novice in '94 when he knocked off who was to be the Senate 'Rat Leader Jim "Daff-uh-Zit" Sasser.

[fieldmarshaldj]

"Now if they can just do something about Connecticut, I'd be in GOP heaven :("

Trivia question: Can you name the last Republican elected to the seat occupied by Chris Dodd (and what year that was) ?

[Pubbie]

"Isakson is simply unacceptable."

Agreed, but the White House doesn't like him either, so I would expect them to clear the field for Kingston and avoid a primary.

Kingston has publicly said he's strongly thinking about running.

As for novices, I like to see an experienced politician run when at all possible, and would only run a novice as a last resort.

[Pubbie]

I don't remember although I have a vague sense that I knew the answer at one point...

[Pubbie]

Here are two articles that show Kingston is seriously considering running:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/851086/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/889171/posts

[fieldmarshaldj]

"Agreed, but the White House doesn't like him either, so I would expect them to clear the field for Kingston and avoid a primary."

I've not heard that regarding Isakson. The WH looks solely at electability, and I got the impression they were leaning towards Isakson. I doubt he will "clear out" if Kingston gets in. The WH tried that heavy-handed approach to get Ed Bryant out of the Senate race here in TN, and it almost blew up in their face.

"Kingston has publicly said he's strongly thinking about running."

Well, he needs to stop thinking and start doing. Time's a wasting with regards to fundraising.

"As for novices, I like to see an experienced politician run when at all possible, and would only run a novice as a last resort."

We had supposedly "experienced" pols running as Republicans for the Senate and Governorship here in TN for years and met with largely poor results. Both Frist and Fred Thompson (forgot about Fred) were novices. The 'Rats have done well with novices as well.

[fieldmarshaldj]

The last GOP'er in the Dodd seat was none other than Prescott Bush, Dubya's grandpap. He was last elected in 1956 and chose not to run again in 1962 against Abe Ribicoff (although if he had, he probably would've won again). Interesting footnote: Had Prescott remained until 1969 and if George, Sr. had been successful in TX in 1964 over the liberal 'Rat Senator Ralph Yarborough, they would've been the first father and son Senators serving concurrently in US History.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I was in those threads. :-)

You'll note they're from February and April respectively. But, as I said, it's almost reaching the point where it will be too late for Kingston to compete (from a $$ standpoint, since as far as I know, he can't self-finance) if he doesn't jump in. If we're still having this discussion in June or July asking "when ?", I'm going to have to write him off and look elsewhere (like Mr. Cain).

[Pubbie]

Many people aren't officially running yet like Jim Gibbons (Even though he will definately challenge Reid).

I think you mean too late to win the primary, but I agree sometime during the summer if Kingston isn't in, we might be in trouble, but don't get excited JUST yet.

Also I knew the last GOP senator in Dodd's seat was famous for some reason, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.
:)

[Pubbie]

"I've not heard that regarding Isakson. The WH looks solely at electability, and I got the impression they were leaning towards Isakson."

The White House was apparently asking Ralph Reed if he wanted to go in, and they treated Isakson very cool reception.

The fact that they were courting Reed, at the same time Isakson publicly anounced he was running, means the White House isn't really satisfied with Isakson, even though they never say so publicly.

[fieldmarshaldj]

"Many people aren't officially running yet like Jim Gibbons (Even though he will definately challenge Reid)."

We're hoping, but it's still not a done deal. Interestingly enough, there is the potential for a Black Republican from Reno to run for that seat, State Senator Maurice Washington.

"I think you mean too late to win the primary, but I agree sometime during the summer if Kingston isn't in, we might be in trouble, but don't get excited JUST yet."

Just want to make sure he gets in early enough so that he can be able to compete in the $$ department. Isakson will wipe him out in that area even if he loses the nomination, and we'll have to start from scratch again next Spring with fundraising. The question is whether the 'Rats will clear the field for a preferred candidate.

"The White House was apparently asking Ralph Reed if he wanted to go in, and they treated Isakson very cool reception."

Ralph Reed ? Don't get me wrong that he did a good job with obtaining our smashing victories in GA, but Reed himself would be a novice candidate and someone who would be marginalized and attacked for the left for being one of these "intolerant religious right" types. I never heard that the WH was particularly interested in seeing him run.

[Pubbie]

HEY!

Mac Collins is looking into slaying the Isakson Dragon:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/909787/posts

[writmeister]

Had Prescott remained until 1969 and if George, Sr. had been successful in TX in 1964 over the liberal 'Rat Senator Ralph Yarborough, they would've been the first father and son Senators serving concurrently in US History.

Actually, father Henry Dodge (D-WI) and son Augustus Caesar Dodge (D-IA) served in the Senate together from 1848-55.