GOP's Cain says win in Fla. straw poll not a fluke

Approved Propaganda, Via Newsvine. ^ | Mon Sep 26, 2011 7:24 AM EDT

[chilepup]

Why can’t he win? I am tired of hearing people say this when he wins straw poll after straw poll and placed 3rd in Zogby. He is a top tier candidate who can win.

[samtheman]

Why can’t he win?

Because the ELECTORATE (not the gabble-group here in FR but the actual ELECTORATE) is going to demand political experience.

I know, I know, blah, blah, blah, experienced pols got us into this mess, blah, blah, blah... I've been here 10 years. I know everything you're going to say about "experience".

But the fact is, the ELECTORATE bet on an inexperienced candidate last time... and they're not going to do it this time.

I know, I know, I know, Obama and Cain are 180 degrees apart on everything... I've been here 10 years, I know everything you're going to say about the difference between Obama and Cain. And I agree with you 100%.

But the ELECTORATE is not going to want a second experiment with inexperience... even if this time he's one of the good guys.

That's just the way I see it.

[Jim Scott]

Well, I've been her eleven years and although you have a point about the electorate betting on an inexperienced candidate (Obama) in 2008 and losing big, most Americans are fed up with politicians and their vaunted 'experience' that seems to always translate into expand government and reducing our freedoms of choice. I could be mistaken but I believe that a successful, articulate business executive such as Herman Cain who presents a straightforward conservative message not steeped so much in pure ideology but in pure common sense can captivate the electorate and defeat the already badly damaged Barack Hussein Obama. The media has convinced most Americans that a presidential candidate cannot be taken seriously unless he (or she) has been elected to public office and 'served' in congress or as a state governor. That is the 'conventional wisdom' and in my opinion it is wrong but it is why someone such as Hillary Clinton ran for and won a senate seat and why most of the Republican candidates are either current or past state governors and/or serve or have served in congress, thus meeting the unwritten criteria for a viable presidential candidacy.

However, just a few months ago FR and the nation were quite excited about the possibility of Donald Trump, who has never been elected to any government office, as a potential GOP presidential candidate. Trump's lack of government 'experience' didn't seem to be the insurmountable obstacle it is purported to be for Herman Cain. Yes, most conservatives - including this one - didn't want Trump to run but his polling numbers were high for the time his possible candidacy was in play. Few voters seemed to consider Trump's lack of 'experience' in some government office a big problem. Donald Trump is a successful businessman and the electorate liked that. Herman Cain is a successful businessman and the electorate likes that about him along with his conservative, no BS message. To be completely honest, I'm waiting for Sarah Palin to enter the race and, perhaps choose Herman Cain as her VP. However, if Palin decides not to run, Herman Cain will be the candidate I'll support and vote for. I doubt I'll be alone in that decision.

[samtheman]

You make a very good argument. Don’t get me wrong. I would vote for Herman Cain, not only in the general election but in the primary, depending on what the situation is when the primary circus rolls through NJ (Feb 7).

I’m not ready to go out and work for him, though that could change in the next couple of months, depending on how things shake out.

If Cain does win the primary, I will work very hard for his election.

I think he would make a great president and I hope you are right about the public being ready for a non-politician.

You are certainly correct about Trump. There was much less talk of him being “inexperienced” when he looked like a possible contender.