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."
I could as easily write “I can certify the Moon is made of green cheese” Ron Paul.
Either you have a link to your claim or not. Don’t just post horsedoo as if we’re all to assume Pmom is a Saint.
I have watched Perry as a Texas voter since day one as Lt. Gov. and never before heard that quote, which makes me have a very large question to it validity or some serious “out of context”.
OK it your turn......
yeah, as one who wayhed the “debate”, what i saw was a stuttering romney, he kinda stuttered with with thought like obama does when he is not on the teleprompter, and he lost his cool, and was the least presidential of the group
yeah, as one who watched the “debate”, what i saw was a stuttering romney, he kinda stuttered with with thought like obama does when he is not on the teleprompter, and he lost his cool, and was the least presidential of the group
The same was said of Dwight D. Eisenhower.Yeah... Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in Europe... CEO of Godfather's Pizza...
Pretty much the same thing...
Just like Reagan and Palin, two-term governor of California... two-year governor of Alaska... pretty much the same thing.
I like Cain and I like Palin. But I have to roll my eyes at the depths of naivete displayed here in FR.
Cain deserved that win. I heard him speak at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference and he really wowed the crowd. Love him!
I know Cain from my years of watching FNC Cavuto. I have no complaints about him(Cain) , but keep your eyes on Romney. I still remember many in 2007 assuring me that McCain could not get it, but I had a bad feeling he would at the time and kept warning Republicans I knew. Then as you know in fall 2008 we were told we have to eat that crap sandwich.
On ABC This Week the Roundtable heads (like Will) were lementing that we just dont accept Romney and drop the others. I dont like it.
I have been nothing but polite. You have been a nasty jerk. This is my final response to you. I’m sure you won’t have the grace to apologize for your nastiness. The well-informed people on this forum don’t usually need a link for such basic information as this. You obviously haven’t done much research.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJs5Rw-v18E&feature=related
Look there are so few LEGAL Mexican immigrants that the numbers are consequential in the scheme of things. Clearly your post show that you are a champion of illegal immigrants occupation of the United States. I didn’t put the words in your post your wrote them yourself. In fact your post are so un-American I at first thought you were a troll from DU and was inclined to ignore you. And though I have now answered your post I am still not 100% sure that you aren’t a troll from DU.
I don’t see where I did any over rejoicing, though I will admit that I ahve always considered Perry a ‘smoke and mirror’ conservative.
Early in 1973, most thought it would be EMK v. Agnew in 1976.
I think you’re right: Mittens can’t be stopped. The fault is with our primary voters.
The only “fair tax” the American people will endorse is one they don’t have to pay!
I don’t think that will happen. I think NH will lead the way with a big, big vote for Mittens, and SC will follow suit with backing from “Lindsey” and Demint.
The headline seemed premature to me.
The Paul-bots' / Paulistinians' buses must've taken a wrong turn somewhere and they failed to show up for the poll. That's my only guess... ;-)
Paulnut, no doubt, no denying it.
Can’t ya just see em taking a wrong turn and end up in Key West with all the fruitcakes? Heck they may get along!!
Key word “was”.
Impressive credentials & resume for Hermann Cain. Ping & print off for further use to throw at dimturd RAT bastard liberals.
‘Paulist’ share your sentiments and support of illegals. My stand is completely opposite of their’s.
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