Posted on 09/24/2011 5:24:39 PM PDT by iowamark
From the bottom of the polls to the top of the pack, businessman Herman Cain won the Republican Party of Florida’s nationally watched presidential straw poll Saturday in a sign that frontrunner Rick Perry is in deep trouble.
Cain’s victory with 37 percent of the vote was a major defeat for Perry, the frontrunner in Florida and national polls, who garnered only 15 percent after wooing the nearly 3,000 party faithful with a free breakfast and mailers.
The vote also showed how soft Republican support is for Mitt Romney, who came in third with 14 percent. Unlike Perry, though, he avoided schmoozing the GOP voters, called delegates.
"Folks, this is what you call momentum," Cain, the former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, said in a video message from his campaign bus. "The Herman Cain train is picking up steam."
That means more national media attention, heightened standing in the race and access to more fundraisers.
The straw poll is a mock election and doesn’t necessarily reflect the sentiment of the voters at large. In past years, it has predicted the party’s national nominee, but that streak could be in jeopardy because even some Cain voters had doubts about whether he was ready to be the party’s nominee.
Still, the vote is a major indication of how badly damaged Perry was by a poor debate performance Thursday when he fumbled answers and failed to give specifics.
Many straw poll voters were especially dissatisfied by the answers Perry gave over his moderate immigration position, the “Ponzi scheme” of Social Security and his plan to inoculate girls from human papillomavirus.
“I came in thinking Rick Perry,” said Tommy Langford,a Gilchrist County commissioner who voted for Cain. “I didn’t like the debate at all. I really thought Perry lost it. Mitt Romney called him on immigration. He said we have to take care of them. Not if they’re illegal, we don’t.”
Another big loser: Michele Bachmann, who came in last place. Once a top-tier candidate who won the Iowa straw poll, she has fallen from sight in the debates where she, too, fails to give specifics, excite delegates here or even reach out to them.
Perry issued a written statement congratulating Cain, saying the vote underscored the fact that the conservative message of job creation, fiscal responsibility and limited government is gaining momentum.
“Floridians and voters nationally want a candidate who is clear on the issues and talks honestly about the future,” Perry said, “not someone who takes multiple sides of an issue and changes views every election season. Today’s vote demonstrates that Floridians are energized and ready to help get America working again.”
Pinellas County delegate Rachelle Warmouth said that, if Perry lost, it wouldn’t be the end of his campaign. But when or lose, the debate performance and the effect it’s having on party loyalists are a call to step up his game.
“He’ll have to have a strong recovery,” she said. “He needs to focus on his message.”
Warmouth’s friend, Eileen Blackmer, agreed: “He needs to work on the three C’s: Be clear, be concise, be complete.”
Lee County delegate Dane Eagle said he’s for Romney. He likes the candidate’s message and polish on stage. And he fears that President Obama would walk all over Perry in debates.
“That’s what Obama does,” Eagle said. “He debates.”
St. Johns County delegate Randy Covington said he arrived in Orlando ready to vote for Perry, but the debate "shattered" that plan. Covington decided to support Cain after the businessman"s rousing speech on Saturday at the Conservative Political Action Conference. That event was wedged in between the party’s Presidency 5 Thursday debate and Saturday straw poll.
But Convington said he wasn’t sure if Cain would or should be the nominee. He said the primary shouldn’t be a two-man race.
"We need this process to go on," Covington said.
Gov. Rick Scott, who announced the results from the Orange County Convention Center stage, said the candidates “need to take very seriously whatever the results are.”
"It shows you something. Florida is important," Scott said from the Orange County Convention Center stage. "It pays to be here."
Losing Alaska’s no biggie. Al Gore lost his own state back in 2000 but won the national majority. It would not be the first time.
I agree that that’s a major problem, and it’s my only concern with Cain. Like to see some detailed analysis of it’s effect though with the elimination of income taxes, capital gains, etc.
That is why I like him! You articulated it so well! I think Palin and Bachmann get too combative at times. I think we need someone uplifting. Reagan was always uplifting, and there is something about Cain that makes him uplifting. I heard him interviewed on Hannity’s show, and loved him. Then, he did well in the last debate.
I know! Romney & Perry remind me of slimy used car salesmen who are also members of “the hair club for men”.
Cindie
How about Crackers for Cain
CRACKERS 4 CAIN!
So rather then do anything, because it might be corrupted in the future, you are advocating we do nothing to change the current corrupt tax system.
That is a really dumb position to take.
He would have been president if he had carried his own state.
I don't know if any of you are old enough to remember 1975. A unknown Governor named Carter was elected because even the Dems. (they were a lot better than they are now) could not bring themselves to vote for the ultra liberals that were running. Cater won because no one really knew him and he was smart enough to take advantage of the situation.
Cain, could very well do the same thing. Perry make a mistake, I am from Texas and am not a Perry fan, but one thing Perry does well is WIN. He will be back in front very soon. Cain just has a gleam of light now that he didn't have yesterday.
If Cain pulls it off, nobody will be happier than The Cold Texan!
I keep asking myself the same question. Must mean that the media is trying to pick our nominee again.
Palin is the superior candidate. Why would she give the media time to pick her apart on the issues and pick apart her family when she can wait until the right time to announce.
On Wednesday, November 7, 2012 I suspect Sarah Palin will make her decision based on whether or not Cain has beat Obama.
That way he can hand her over the Presidency. She'll be the default President. Cain will be Palin's VP. Whoever ran on the ticket with Cain will just claim they cannot serve due to family problems.
She's not running a conventional campaign.
exactly! Stick a fork in both Perry and Romney. They’re done at least with conservatives.
Cain appears to be a nice fellow, seems sincere, and speaks of some conservative truths. But, stating he would make a "far better President than Sarah Palin" is stretching things to the point of leaving me wondering on just exactly WHY this case can be made.
What is his "record" that would support that versus former Gov. Palin?
What are his stated "positions" that would support that versus former Gov. Palin?
And the trump card here (for any candidate) versus Sarah Palin...
What are the ACCOMPLISHMENTS that would support that versus Sarah Palin?
I would engage this debate with FACTS and not rhetoric!
Get real - the sales tax would be lieu of an income tax.
Rick Perry: 15 percent
Mitt Romney: 14 percent
I like these odds, especially if the same winner-take-all primary rules that gave us John "30%" McCain are still in place.
There’s a nice picture of the Cains here:
http://rgeorgedunn.blogspot.com/2011/06/43-years-married-mr-mrs-herman-gloria.html
Perhaps someone who’s adept can bring it over to this conversation.
My biggest focus right now is finding a conservative to beat Romney then Obama.
It would be great if Cain can be that guy. I'm just not sure the country will hire a guy whose first elected position would be POTUS.
All I'm gonna say is that if you like Cain's message, get behind Cain. I think he can win. No reason to think he doesn't stand a chance. If everyone who liked Cain simply talked that way, Perry and Romney would be in the single digits.
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