Yeah. I agree this helps Cain.
Here’s how Cain could get the nomination:
-Huck doesn’t run - CONFIRMED
-Palin doesn’t run (more likely than many care to admit)
-Trump doesn’t run (??????)
-Newt, Daniels, and Romney are in, along with Crazy Uncle Ron Paul and Herman Cain, plus Santorum and Pawlenty and a few others nobody cares about.
Romney with his recent comments on healthcare doesn’t have the strength he expects, and basically runs neck and neck with Newt. Pawlenty and Daniels are behind the two, but the RINO/establishment vote basically splits between the four of them, all four failing to break 12% as a result.
Those looking for “outsider” experience go mostly to Cain. Social conservatives go to Santorum initially, but Santorum makes a surprisingly weak showing in Iowa and drops out.
Cain picks up most SoCons by default with Huck, Santorum, and Palin out of the race. Deficit hawks split between Cain and Crazy Uncle Ron.
Those looking for business savvy go 50/50 to Romney and Cain, but not enough to give Mitt the win.
Cain wins nomination.
*as long as Trump doesn’t go full douchebag and run as an Independent (although if he enters as a Repub, he probably won’t change the outcome in my scenario in the end)