That's because Newt and Cain are both class acts and were able to rise above viciously attacking their fellow republican candidates and still get their message across.
And because Newt and Cain have not been attacked by a single candidate or moderator. Softball questions for the most part.
When these moderators decided to pit Romney and Santorum and Bachmann and Paul against Perry, this is what skewed a few things and turned people off. Turned people off of every single one of them. Cain and Gingrich have not been asked to pile on, and have both avoided the temptation to do so.
I think this is a huge reason for their recent upswing. They both also probably want a VP bid down the line if this doesn’t work out. Santorum and the others have stated they’re not interested. And thus they feel free to go on the attack.
my .02
Who did Cain choose to be his VP in that hypothetical question? Remember the last question, I think I remember him choosing Newt. Cain/Newt 2012
OH...watch in the next debate...it will be Cain receiving the vicious attacks by his fellow Republicans. He has been seen as a loser and safe...that has changed you’ll see everyone but Perry and Newt go after Cain. They’re loading up on his background...the wolves are circling Cain’s wagons.
It’s not so much that as Newt and Cain actually had a message that they conveyed to the audience. They sold their platform and ideas. Which is what the audience was looking for.
All attacking does is highlight what problems the one attacked has. It does nothing to sell your ideas and platform.