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."
WE ALL NEED TO SEND CAIN SMALL DONATIONS NOW!!!!!!
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!!!!! IT IS POSSIBLE TO CHANGE THIS
COUNTRY!!!! The chosen one did it with small contributions, LET’S
ROLL!!!!!!
‘cause MSM wants Perry to be in trouble. They fear him. Romney is liberal so they like him, for now.
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.
Because he’s an honest to goodness, actually positive person. Hannity summed up Cain’s attitude on life by saying he’s never seen Cain have a bad day. A smile and a positive attitude - along with a depth of knowledge, a glib nature (thanks to his radio days), a love of this country and actual leadership skills - combine into a very good candidate.
He knows who he is. When he smiles, it’s not faked or put on. He doesn’t have to pretend to be something else to win people over.
That attitude - the power of positivity and belief in this country Cain has - is exactly what we need right now.
Well well.
And just three years ago Americans made an exception and elected a black man. The times they are a changin'!
Cain may have never held elective office but his reseme is impressive.
■Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics.
■Master’s degree in Computer Science.
■Mathematician for the Navy, where he worked on missile ballistics (making him a rocket scientist).
■Computer systems analyst for Coca-Cola.
■VP of Corporate Data Systems and Services for Pillsbury.
All achieved before reaching the age of 35. Since he reached the top of the information systems world, he changed careers!
■ Business Manager. Took charge of Pillsbury’s 400 Burger King restaurants in the Philadelphia area, which were the company’s poorest performers in the country. Spent the first nine months learning the business from the ground up, cooking hamburger and yes, cleaning toilets. After three years he had turned them into the company’s best performers.
■Godfather’s Pizza CEO. Was asked by Pillsbury to take charge of their Godfather’s Pizza chain (which was on the verge of bankruptcy). He made it profitable in 14 months.
■In 1988 he led a buyout of the Godfather’s Pizza chain from Pillsbury. He was now the owner of a restaurant chain.
■He was also chairman of the National Restaurant Association during this time.
■Adviser to the Federal Reserve System.
■Chairman of the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank.
■Writer and public speaker.
■Radio Host.
Cain has not only received five honorary doctorate degrees, but he has been recognized by the Horatio Alger Society, an organization in Pennsylvania that honors those who rise from rags to riches by hard work, honesty, and religious principles. Cain has received awards for his humanitarian efforts; businessman of the year awards; special recognition awards; and excellence in leadership awards.
Barry was a community organizer, a state senator who voted 'present' and was only a US senator 18 months. When it comes to executive experience Barry has 4 years of FAILED leadership as POTUS. Herman Cain is far more qualified than Barry.
If it's Cain vs Unable Cain wins.
Demonrat Barry obama, the first black, yet most anti-American (and possibly not a Natural Born American) president in our history,
who cites Lincoln as an inspiration,
is overwhelmingly defeated by
The first black Republican President Herman Cain!!!
What an interesting twist of fate and (to me) some divine irony that would be!
And who'd be better to undo the damage and the racial divisiveness obama has caused, to bring us back together, so we can then get back to moving forward together, than Herman Cain?
Plus, he's a Natural Born Citizen! (Maybe he could help to facilitate healing that bit of Constitutional damage as well!)
When “happy” its better to read not type.
This “immigration” thing, is a hellofa lot more complex here in Texas. There are a lot of legal Mexican USA citizens who vote in Texas, Perry has some level of obligation to listen to them same as us.
Perry has spent $400 million of Texas money trying to secure the border. The US Constitution says the border is a US responsibility, not a State’s.
Illegal immigation can be solved simply. Require employers to verify, fine them when they hire illegals, turn off the freeby spigot for ANY non-citizen and most importantly, STOP WELFARE. Stop welfare and there won’t be any jobs for the illegals to take, “our” lowlifes will have to work or starve and begrudgenly they will go to work.
While I am at it, please contact Jim DeMint to urge him to run. We need him running more than ever now.
We do not need political experience with Cain, he knows how to
surround himself with the right people, not an arrogant bone in this
man body this is what this country needs at this time.
Having voted third party in the last two Presidential elections, you can probably guess the answer.
Heard your math degree was from Okie State...
Women tend to be more survival oriented than men. Men tend to avoid shooting another man in the back. A woman will not hesitate, they go for survival. Men will offer an even chance more often than not.
I like Herman Cain. He is the only one other than Newt that has impressed me in the debates. Of course I don’t want Newt, but his brilliance cannot be denied. I think it’s time for Sarah to give it her best shot and see how she does.
So hold up on the friendly fire.
Re-reading your 14, yep you make a fantasy claim to know what the Straw Poll voters thought. Maybe it should be “ESPwriter”.
I agree and that is your view but others from your state have different views who cannot stand Ricardo Perry and my view is that he lost me calling many bigots and can’t build a wall plus in state tuition.
See I came to this country legally and to hell with illegals breaking the law and those who help them by giving them in state college.
Perry has lost my vote and if he still has yours then OK that is your view and your vote.
Went golfing today. Came home and watched some college football on the DVR. Then had a nice home cooked meal with the family. Then watched a blu-ray movie which I just finished.
So I just climbed into bed and decided to look on FR on the iPhone just to see what the headlines were.
Uhm, holy moly!!!!!
Well I guess we know who won the Orlando debate.
Sarah’s my #1, Cain #2. If Sarah doesn’t jump in I’m on the Cain Train.
__________________________
Me too! I don’t like Perry and I don’t think he stands a chance. He was shameful in the debates. It was painful to watch and I KNOW he will chicken out and not go after Mr. I WON should he end up being the candidate to debate him. I’m pretty sure the ones Oblahblah would least want to debate are Cain, Palin, Gingrich or Romney. He would love to debate the others, he would just talk over them and they would cower in the corner.
Got that ass backward. Given Perry demonstrated incompetence as a campaigner to date, vote for Perry and prepare for Obama to be reelected.
You cannot be as gaffe ridden as Perry is and win a national campaign. He implodes in the Oct 2012 debates, like he did the other night in Florida, and it is all over for us and the nation.
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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