Free Republic

CEDAR RAPIDS — Although it was difficult to turn on the television or pick up a newspaper in the lead-up to the 2008 presidential contest without reading a story about how a woman or a black man was going to fare in Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses, Herman Cain says that particular “novelty” has passed. “I think President Barack Obama does get some credit for being the first African American running for president,” Cain told The Iowa Independent Tuesday night at a Linn County GOP chili cook-off. “It’s not talked about as much this time because the novelty of happening to be...

Most of the pundits do not believe Herman Cain has any chance of winning the GOP nomination. As is often the case, the pundits might be wrong. The Georgia businessman is showing signs that he just might be a force in the presidential race. Cain continues to win straw polls around the nation and was declared the winner of the first presidential debate. While tea party groups remain Cain’s base, his appeal is extending across the Republican spectrum. Cain found plenty of interest among prominent Iowa Republicans Monday. He held private meetings with potential donors, was extremely well received at...

But wouldn't liberals and Democrats still find a racially-based way to attack Cain? They certainly found a way to attack Clarence Thomas, the black, conservative Supreme Court justice. "They're going to come after me more viciously than they would a white candidate," Cain responded. "You're right. Clarence Thomas. And so, to use Clarence Thomas as an example, I'm ready for the same high-tech lynching that he went through -- for the good of this country." Cain smiled broadly. "I'm ready for the same high-tech lynching."

“You notice that when I speak I don’t need a teleprompter and you didn’t see me pull out any notes. It comes from my heart and my head … that’s resonating with people.”

I'd never thought I'd see the day when conservatives fully embrace affirmative action. The myopic and destructive support for Cain for President is TOTALLY based on the simple fact that he's an articulate black man and self-made businessman, so conservatives can say, "See! See! We're not racists, we love black guys too!" But so was bland boring white guy John Cox, a businessman who ran for President in 2008, also without having zero experience in elective office. So where was the support for him? Please spare me the inevitable BS about how you'd rather support a businessman (or use...

But among conservative activists and Tea Party groups across the nation, the people who know him best, Cain is known and respected for his thinking as much for his fiery, impassioned speeches at rallies and conferences. So it is a mistake to underestimate Cain. He could be the story of this election cycle.

Former Godfather’s Pizza CEO and radio talk show host Herman Cain was a surprise victor in a straw poll of GOP presidential candidates held at State Republicans’ 29th Annual Spring Gala on Friday. Cain took 54 votes of 357 votes cast. He edged out former Massachusetts Gov. Willard “Mitt” Romney (52) and Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (51). Daniels has yet to decide whether he will run......

(Video length 5:39) I don’t know one Muslim who will denounce Sharia Law, and then say they can support the Constitution of the United States of America. So my assumption based on what I know about their belief system is that they are not going to give up Sharia Law. Anybody that takes the oath of office in a Herman Cain administration will put their hand on the Bible, not the Koran!

Gallup has been measuring the "positive intensity" that Republicans and Republican-leaning independents feel for the presidential hopefuls. "Positive intensity" is calculated based on the difference between the potential candidates' strongly favorable and strongly unfavorable ratings among those familiar with them. The most notable finding of their latest survey? Underdog Herman Cain, included in the poll for the first time, actually has a pretty passionate following. Here are the 2012ers with the highest "positive intensity" scores. Mike Huckabee: 26 positive intensity score Michele Bachmann: 20 positive intensity score Mitt Romney: 20 Herman Cain: 20 Sarah Palin: 18 Tim Pawlenty: 16 Mitch...

DES MOINES, Iowa – Most Americans haven't heard of Herman Cain, the former head of a chain of pizza restaurants who is considering seeking the Republican presidential nomination. But in Iowa, home to the nation's first presidential caucuses, Cain has caught the attention of conservative activists influenced by the tea party movement who aren't bothered by candidates who have succeeded in business but have never held a public office. "He's creating quite a buzz," said former Iowa Republican Party Chairman Richard Schwarm. "He is someone Iowa caucus-goers are going to take very seriously."

Even those conservatives who will not vote for Herman Cain to win the Republican nomination should hope that he does run -- and that his candidacy lasts a long time during the nomination process, perhaps even succeeding. Not the least of reasons is that a Cain candidacy would be a hoot.  And I do not mean that in a derisive or condescending way at all.  I mean that it would be the kind of doggone honest and refreshing campaign the country needs.  It would be the opposite of the stale McCain run.  Cain does not speak Washington drivel, and...

Herman Cain has long made it clear he has his eyes set on the presidency and according to an inside source, Mr. Cain may announce at the CORE (Congress of Racial Equality)Dinner in New York City next Monday his intention to run for the Republican nomination for the President of the United States in 2012.

Herman Cain's presidential rumblings haven't garnered much national attention, but that isn't because he lacks popularity among grassroots conservatives or because he's shunned visits to early-voting states. The conservative talk-radio host is a bonafide Tea Party rock star who's a regular at their events and serves as a commentator on Fox News. By his count, Cain has visited Iowa six times in the past year and has supporters making calls to key activists in the state. He's also made three trips to New Hampshire, one to South Carolina, four to Texas and two to Florida. In an interview, the one-time...

Herman Cain laughs at being described as "Steve Forbes with charisma," but finds the comparison flattering. "That's quite a compliment.… I have the greatest amount of respect for him." The former CEO of Godfather's Pizza and Atlanta talk-radio host notes that he supported Forbes during the publishing executive's unsuccessful 2000 Republican presidential primary campaign, and Forbes endorsed Cain's 2004 Senate bid in the Georgia GOP primary. Now, Cain is on the verge of embarking on his own presidential campaign, hiring staffing and preparing to form an exploratory committee. The combination of Forbes-like economic savvy and his own charismatic personality has...

Potential presidential candidate Herman Cain speaks to TheDC about where he stands on domestic, foreign policy Tea Party favorite and former Godfather’s Pizza CEO Herman Cain has all but announced an official 2012 presidential bid – he’s told several news media he’s seriously considering it but has not yet made it official. Many Tea Partiers know his back-story of having survived cancer after having led a successful corporate life. He also hosts a radio show in Georgia and though he has never held political office, he ran an unsuccessful campaign for Senate in Georgia in 2004. What some Tea Partiers...