Posted on 10/03/2011 1:25:03 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Republican Presidential candidate Herman Cain is gaining visibility. His surprise Florida straw poll win last month shows hes still in the game. And he may have a role to play whether he gets the GOP presidential nomination or not.
To be sure, theres much going against Herman Cains presidential campaign. The former pizza chain mogul has never held political office. And he has few staffers in states such as Iowa and New Hampshire where the first primary elections occur.
But as an African-American conservative in a race that includes the countrys first black President, he may have outsized influence.
Emory University professor Merle Black says Cain could follow Sarah Palins lead. The former Alaska Governor has played a key role since winning the 2008 vice presidential nomination -- even though the Republican ticket lost.
It remains to be seen how far hes going to go," Black said. "I think whatever happens, if hes not on the ticket, he could certainly be a huge asset for Republican candidates across the country, speaking next fall on behalf of the Republican ticket.
And it's possible Cain could attain a different office from the one he's seeking, says Charles Bullock, a professor at the University of Georgia.
Maybe he wouldnt be the presidential nominee but what if he were to become the vice presidential selection? Well, that would be a first," he said. "Neither party has ever had an African-American slated for vice president.
Bullock says he could even be offered a statewide office in Georgia. That's largely testament to how popular Cain is throughout the Republican party.
Depending on how long Cain stays in the race, he is likely to have a featured role in the 2012 Republican National Convention.
Black of Emory University says if New Jersey Governor Chris Christie decides to enter the race this week, Cain will have scant chance of winning the nomination. But hell still be in demand to stump on the campaign trail.
I’ll wait until the clip is showed but on twitter this what Cain allegedly said on the Rachel Maddow show: #HermanCain on the Madcow show claiming the Mainstream media has been pushing #SarahPalin because of her name recognition & money.
Glad to see Cain getting publicity and rising in the polls.
Christie's campaign will be DOA. He'll be percieved by the voters as the NJ version of Rick Perry--lots of flash, but soft/wrong on too many core issues important to conservatives. 2012 voters don't want flash, they want meat and potatos.
The fact that he doesn't recognize this fact shows he is still working under the old political rules.
So Herman Cain is putting down Sarah Palin on The Rachel Maddow Show?!?!?!?!?! Has anyone seen the actual footage?
Clearly this article was written last week. Before Cain stepped in it big time by playing the race card.
Please get that to me when you find it. Thanks!
I see his lack of GOVERNMENTAL experience as a decided PLUS, and he has plenty of real-world executive management experience. Love his direct and succinct style.
All that said, I’d still prefer to see a Palin-Cain ticket than a Cain-Anyone ticket.
I don’t know what was said, but Cain and Palin will both be at Liberty University on Saturday.
http://www.liberty.edu/news/index.cfm?PID=18495&MID=38546
At some point, you’ve got to think Cain (and the others in the race) are getting tired of hearing about Sara Palin. Even Leno asked if Cain thought Palin would get into the race.
He would be a hit at Tea Parties. But I’d rather see him in some position of a Palin Administration.
She’s the most significant and effective conservative figure in the country currently. Why does it surprise you when they still talk about her? Who was Jay Leno supposed to ask after, Milt Romney or Jon Huntsman?
Oh Hell no!! He has no advisers?
Oh geeze, please tell me Cain didn't go on the Rachael Maddow show. I have a very time believing he'd do that.
And one thing is for sure, the mainstream media is most certainly NOT pushing for Sarah Palin. I'd really be shocked if Cain said something like that.
I seriously wonder if ‘Herm’ will sit in on Sarah’s speech. May as well. That’d be a liberal newshead explosion potential, LOL.
Stop being so defensive. Maybe he was putting down the mainstream media.
He didn’t play the race card. Unless you want to concede that Perry did too by calling people like me heartless.
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