So, apparently it's time to start taking a serious look at Herman Cain. Our wiser neighbors across the northern border are already watching this political circus. An article in the Toronto newspaper Globe and Mail raised the question of whether Herman Cain can be taken seriously, pointing out the field day punsters and headline writers are already having:
"Is Cain Able?"Clever, but what about the seriousness of the serious question?
"Nein, nein, nein"
Cain has a compelling life story as the son of a janitor/chauffeur and a maid. He earned a master's degree in computer science, rose to be Vice President of the Pillsbury Company before taking on the challenge and succeeding at turning a failing pizza company into a major pizza chain. Somewhere along the way, he was also appointed to the Board of Directors of the regional Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City, and later voted by the Board to be chair. More recently he has had a successful career as a radio talk show host.
Cain wins audiences with his freshness and candor; he seems unscripted and genuine, and he has a talent for pithy sound bites. As the article points out, his self-confident rhetoric and his simply stated ideas appeal to conservative audiences.
But will that translate to general audiences, and will his simply stated ideas and plans stand up to the scrutiny of analysis? Not likely. Already, analysts have said that his 9-9-9 tax plan would increase the taxes on 84 % of Americans, and only the rich would pay less tax. One analysis says that the lowest 20% would average $1700 more in taxes per year. Cain has responded by quickly amending his plan to exempt from taxes those below the poverty line and to put in some exemptions. But that obviously will change the whole equation and Cain's selling point of being fiscally sound (it isn't).
And then there's his insisting that, much as he personally opposes abortion, he thinks the federal government shouldn't be making those decisions for other people. Which, guess what, Herman? That is a pro-choice position you're espousing to your Tea Party crowd. They're not going to like that. He's now doing damage control on that one.
So -- as appealing as he is as a speaker -- his durability as a viable candidate seems in doubt, even for the nomination, when analysts and other candidates go to work on positions. He has some good qualities, and I think he's sincere in wanting to get our government to working. But he's not ready for the big leagues.
Yes, but where do his supporters go? Probably more to Perry than to Romney, which might tend to even up the score when it comes down to those two.
Ralph
As of today, 10/26, Cain continues to surge in the polls, especially some of the more targeted ones, such as:
ReplyDeleteOf Republicans who plan to vote in the primary and who have heard of him, Cain has a 74% favorable rating.
He's also now leading Romney 25% to 21% in the latest CBS/NYT poll.
So -- don't count him out yet. But also remember that as many as 8 or 10 say they have not yet made up their minds whom to vote for. And a majority say they would still like to have other options than those running.