Herman Cain mania

Politico ^ | December 16, 2010 | Ben Smith

[justsaynomore]

There's a place in every primary for an ideological purist and debate champ — think Dennis Kucinich — and radio talker Herman Cain seems to be the early front-runner for that slot on the Republican side in 2012.

Cain, an African-American conservative with a real private sector background — he was a Pillsbury executive and then took over and ran Godfathers Pizza — is a regular on the conservative event circuit and a compelling speaker, though he's little known outside conservative circles.

He was the pick of a survey of RedState readers this week, with 8,900 votes to Gov. Sarah Palin’s 8,100 votes. Erick Erickson's response: " I wouldn’t put too much stock into it, but I would say it is a good sign for Herman Cain that, being relatively unknown, he can generate that much enthusiasm for himself. Works for me."

And Tim Albrecht, a Terry Branstad aide who knows his way around the politics of the first caucus, just tweeted (I think in earnest): "Prediction: Herman Cain is going to have some serious legs when he begins visiting Iowa."

Cain's telegraphic platform (also known as the principles of the "Hermanator’s Intelligent Thinkers Movement" offer grass-roots conservatives little to object to.

So don't sleep on Herman Cain, I guess.

[Coffee_drinker]

Frank, I'm in Oregon and love Cain, he has been reaching out with social media very well (ala FB)and think he'll be a wonderful addition to the mix. At least he'll be able to get his message out to the nation in a wider audience if he decides to run.

[truthguy]

Why doesn't Cain run for the US House, the US Senate, or governor of Georgia first? Please no more political novices. We need people with a proven track record of VOTING conservative. We should have learned our lesson on this.

[itsahoot]

I think Palin and Cain would make a superb ticket.

Number two spot, for a Black man would be interpreted as an insult, after Obama has been number one.

[Eagle of Liberty]

Please place me on the Herman Cain Ping List!!!

[ansel12]

Don’t quit your day job.

[FreedomPoster]

I still have my Herman Cain pin from the 2004 Senate primary. We missed a real opportunity there.

[Eagle of Liberty]

And lastly - with the mass panic among the country club set of RINO's against Palin, I don't think they want anyone but some other country clubber like Romney, so there will be that battle to fight as well.

I see this as the largest fight heading up to 2012 as we have seen in this past election cycle that if a moderate wins over a conservative in the primary, the conservatives are told, "Hold your nose and vote for the party." Meanwhile, when a conservative beats a moderate in the primary, the moderates get all whiny and do whatever they can to protect their OWN political career including going third party and becoming a write-in candidate.

[Boogieman]

“Those who know Herman and listen to him will be inclined to support him, I’m sure, but that might be just enough voters to cause a version of “third party meltdown” to insure that the dems would win.

Also, many will vote for him as a “replacement” for obama, based solely on racial reasons, further dilution of the vote.”

This post doesn’t make any sense, unless you’re trying to tell us he will run as a third party candidate if he loses the primaries. Is that your assertion? If so, where did you get that impression?

[higgmeister]

He is no advocate of RINOS. We found that out in the Senate race a few years back

He earned my vote and I would do it again! Since he became a cancer survivor, I think that the only thing that holds him back is his wife's blessing. I am sure they have continued to pray for guidance over it.

Herman Cain already appears Presidential by his wit, his bearing and his insight!

[higgmeister]

Why doesn't Cain run for the US House, the US Senate, or governor of Georgia first? Please no more political novices.

You're not from around here are you!?

[truthguy]

You're not from around here are you!?

No, I'm not from your area. But I don't think it's good for someone to run for POTUS without some type of indication how they would givern if given the opportunity. What's wrong with that? Most people were clueless on how Obama would govern if elected. They believed the hype and BS. Not me of course. I knew he would be terrible for the country and said as much. I never heard of Herman Cain until about 6 months ago. He's unknown for the vast majority of American. Why doesn't he follow the lead of Alan West and run for Congress? West won in a district that was overwhelming white and in Florida. Why can't Cain do the same?

[truthguy]

Herman Cain already appears Presidential by his wit, his bearing and his insight!

Oh, please! A lot more than that is necessary to be POTUS. Good grief, as Charlie Brown would say.

[justsaynomore]

Will do!

[higgmeister]

Why can't Cain do the same?

My point was that if you were from around here, you would know that Herman Cain already did that. Cain finished second in the primary with 26.2% of the vote, ahead of Collins who won 20.6%, but because Isakson was able to win 53.2% of the vote (with democrats crossing over to pick the most liberal Republican candidate), Isakson was able to avoid a runoff against Cain.

Johnny Isakson was a local Realtor that parlayed his fortune into a political career. Representative Isakson lost in races for The Senate and then The Governorship but eventually won the Senate in 2006 when the still young Georgia Republican machine gave its support to recognize his party loyalty.

We Conservatives especially regretted Herman Cain not being our junior Senator when Sen. Isakson appeared to support amnesty within the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007. After angry protests outside his offices for a few weeks (I was there) Sen. Isakson finally voted against the immigration bill he helped write.

A Senator Herman Cain would have been on the right side from the beginning.

[higgmeister]

I was at this event to see Herman Cain speak. After this speech he went to the lobby of the auditorium and worked his radio show remotely. It was a very patriotic night! Herman Cain has what is necessary to be POTUS, plus he has the business acumen to understand and resolve the dire economic issues of today.

[RobbyS]

My concern about Cain is his health. He had a serious, serious health problem in 2006. That could recur at any time. But he is very, very impressive.

[RobbyS]

He is a man in a hurry. He came close to dying in 2006.