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."
Sorry....I’m not sympathethic with the anchor’s and the education thing.....They need to go....Education for our AMERICAN children...fine.....Other then that, good bye...
Not only does it show that Perry has shot himself in both feet but that Romney is not going to be the one who benefits from it.
Cain vs Unable
has a nice ring to it
I went into this debate with Perry as my first choice. Now, I’ve eliminated him completely.
I like Cain very much. He and Newt are probably the smartest candidates, although Newt’s got a lot of baggage, and I wouldn’t consider him. My worry about Cain is that he doesn’t have any political experience.
No matter who wins the GOP primary, I’m voting for him - or her. To stay at home is to vote for Barrack Obama.
You are exactly right. I remember the shrill panic coming from the folks on here who were so worried about She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named that they supported Rudy because “He’s the only one who can beat her.”
Most of them are no longer with us here, having gotten so hostile, it was impossible to talk to them.
If they (pro-amnesty crowd) keep accepting the opposition to Mexico's status quo - then who will be left in Mexico to vote and fight for change?
It is people like you who help the Mexican people more than you may know.
It is the John McCains of the US who have no heart.
That is very clever! We could even recycle the ‘08 signs and save Herman a few bucks. :)
Plus it would feel sooo good to obliterate the “Mc” from ‘08. I hated having to vote for McCain. No more RINO’s!
Go Herman Cain!
Well, you spin it just like the MSM might...."Combined, they BEAT Cain!!!!!"
Do you often lie, or are you just lousy at simple math?
My friends in Texas who know Perry well ARE NOT for him! They know him too well.
He’s first and foremost A POLITICIAN!!! and when Cain was asked if he could get anywhere because he WASN’T a politician, he astutely answered, “Politicians got us where we are today. How’s that workin’ out for ya’?”
The LAST THING we need is another professional politician as POTUS....
I made a math mistake. Sue me.
In every single debate so far, Cain is the only one that has stood up there and offered a solid plan. The rest of them have stood there and flapped their lips and offered platitudes.
Go Cain!
Perry is done. Anyone who saw that debate (6 million) will never vote for Perry. His answer on “no heart” was Dukakis like. He is done.
Excellent point! Thanks for posting it!
A shame Rudy didn't win. Just think of the money we'd have saved if both the President and First Lady were consolidated into one person.
Michelle Obama'$ killing u$
Because Perry was favored to win. He tried. Romney didn’t put in a big effort. Florida is South. Perry can’t even win in the South. He is done!!!!
Gonna take yer ball and run home, huh?
Hear ya buddy. I will not waste my time with liberal, moderate, or hit-and-miss-conservative Prez candidates. Am running a campaign for state senate, we are 2 seats from having both the guv and both houses here in Iowa and we can start getting some stuff done.
The states are important to defeating the Dems because:
1) Voter ID, getting rid of same day registration, etc. cuts out alot of voter fraud.
2) Limiting or eliminating collective bargaining, and the state govt getting out of collecting union dues for public employees cuts into the union dues cash flow to the DNC.
It’s thru the states we can cut the Dems off at the knees.
Not my idea originally.
Remember Cain hit some early homeruns. Someone even posted a recycled McCain / Palin bumper sticker image on FR with the “Mc” crossed out with lipstick I think. :D
I never really took him serious then, even though I really liked what he said.
I’m thinking things are different. Cain just became an honest to good, contender today.
He skipped it? That means he didnt expect to win.
Sarah’s decision to wait is looking smarter and smarter. Let the other front runners kick their own butts. She (and hopefully Cain as her running mate) can run against 0bama instead of other candidates who are losing momentum and support.
Cindie
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