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."
I screwed that up... should have been "HUGH and SERIES" ;-)
OK how about business without silver spoon in mouth.
It’s a straw poll. Essentially, it doesn’t mean much this early in the game.
bttt
April 26, 2011 , Wingnut Presidential Candidate Herman Cain: Privatize Social Security Like Chile
Did Cain say anything in the debates about SS when Romney was taking the liberal position?
yes Perry gets points for calling SS a ponzi scheme but words without a plan are just words.
Herman CAIN would make a wonderful president and he happens to be Black. Yes we CAIN! Forget the loses from last time - no Romney, no Palin. CAIN is an intelligent, well-educated, patriotic leader who knows the score.
Now, Cain is someone I can vote FOR (not just against Zer0)
I’m with ya on that.
I agree. Herman Cain IS inspiring! He’s a non-politician, for one thing. He has a positive message and no one can doubt his love for this country. I like him very much. I am inspired by his bio...he certainly has my and DH’s support!
love yer tagline
“this shows us why we should not let non republicans vote in our primaries .”
In my State I cannot vote in the Republican primaries since I am a registered Libertarian.
However, Cain is on the top of my list and I wish that I could vote for him.
Your comment got me to thinking about BO and MO...do we ever see pictures of them looking happy? Rarely, if ever. He's always got that wide, stupid-looking phony smile on his face in some of his photos, but I've rarely seen any of them together looking happy.
The same can be said of the Clintons. Sure, Hillary knew of Bill's philandering going back to his days at Oxford so you can't or shouldn't expect any closeness between them. And she certainly knew about it when, in a defense of him during the Gennifer Flowers scandal, said that the Flowers scandal was nothing more than a "Vast Right Wing Conspiracy".
Contrast all this to George and Laura Bush -- or George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara. There's something strangely fake about these liberal/democrat couples.
I agree. Look at what “political” experience has gotten us in Washington. I’m sick and damn tired of the career “politicians” literally destroying this country. I’m all for a non-politician being at the helm for once, and can especially get behind someone like Herman Cain. He’s a proven leader, he’s honest, forthright, positive, and especially, a man who loves America and appreciates the goodness of this country. I too believe that he will surround himself with competent people of integrity, which is what we need so very badly right now. Just a small fraction of my 2-cents worth.
The American people do not want Obama lite, no more rinos or leftists.
Here! Here! I sure as hell am!
were trying to get back to red.
I just don’t believe that America as a whole, and conservatives in particular, are going to elect Romney. I believe his time to ascend to the top is gone. Plus, he’s such a slickster, and in my mind, comes across as such a phony. Talk about being “groomed.” This guy’s been “grooming” for the presidency since he was a kid, for crying aloud! Romney? No thanks! Will be glad when he finally exists stage left for good!
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