Herman Cain’s got poll numbers. But Rick Perry raising TONS of cash

On Wedesday, we took a closer look at Herman Cain, who is spiking in recent polls — and taking a lot of his newfound support from Texas Guv Rick Perry. “Flavor of the week,” as Sarah Palin refers to her pal, “Herb Caen.”

But Herb would trade in all those temporal poll numbers for what Perry has: Lots of cold, hard campaign contributions. Perry will report $17 mi miiiiiiiiiiiiiilllion in contributions over the past three months. That’s $17 million in 49 days — and THAT keeps Perry as an A-list candidate who can afford (for now) bad debate performances and a near-endless stream of bad stories. All those California fundraisers surely helped. He’s even swiped some Mitt Romney donors in the Golden State.

His closest competition: Romney, who will announce between $11 and $13 million before the federal campaign finance forms are due Oct. 15.

Next up: Dr. Rep. Ron Paul — winner of the California GOP straw poll – who took in $8 million from 100,000-plus donors — or five times as many as Perry.

And what about Herb? Well, a new CBS poll out Wednesday shows that he’s tied for first place with Romney at 17 percent apiece. Who’s in first place? “Undecided” at 18 percent. His fundraising? Uh….still waiting on that. Shh. Don’t interrupt Herb: He’s on book tour.

So what does that get him? He’s got little operation in Iowa, the first caucus state. If he doesn’t get off the ground there, it’s going to be that much tougher in New Hampshire. And you can’t retail-campaign in a massive, populous state like Florida, which comes up shortly thereafter. If he’s serious about this leader-of-the-free-world job interview, Herb needs to put down the book, pick up the phone and raise some cash.

He has sold you on red meat rhetoric and not on a proven record.

True enough. Cain sold me years ago when he toured the nation with the Tea Party Express. I've enjoyed listening to his red meat rhetoric for a number of years before this presidential bid. He was also a strong advocate for the FairTax, one of my special interests, as well. I learned a considerable amount about him through that too. Admittedly I am sold ... but to be fair, I vetted all the candidates as they rose to the podium and I would be equally pleased to support Bachmann or Santorum. I could even be convinced to give Gingrich a second chance. They are all serving up the red meat these days.

The last 3 you mentoned at least have a record to judge them by.

But if serving up red meat is your criteia, I guss you got your man. Just don’t forget to listen closely because he has given out lots of clues where his support will go.

But maybe you are one of the ones who thinks Romney is not so bad?

But maybe you are one of the ones who thinks Romney is not so bad?

Take my word for it or check my post history, Romney does not get my vote under any circumstance. It is my sincere opinion that Romney and Huntsman are candidates capable of fracturing the Republican party so badly that Obama could possibly win another term. Which is probably why the political elites want to run Romney so badly. He's a wolf in sheep's clothing -- completely for sale. I'll write someone in before being his enabler. You?

I believe you but am confused how you dont see that Cain is aligned with Romney and will give hiis endorsement of him should he bow out. He will also accept Romney’s invitation to be his VP candidate but not Perry according to his recent statements.

I find that troublimg. You may not love Perry but you have to know he’s far far from being a Romney.

I find that troublimg. You may not love Perry but you have to know he’s far far from being a Romney.

I agree with that. Perry is much preferable to Romney. If Perry made a brilliant VP pick as McCain did in 2008, I would likely hold my nose and vote for him. I can't say the same for Romney -- I'd write someone in before pulling the lever for Romney.

But I also believe that Perry is very similar to Bush. That's why the GOP picked him when their man Romney floundered. He's likable but lukewarm and comes with a price tag they can afford. It was Bush that coined the phrase "too big too fail" -- which was just code for tax payers bailing out corporate cronies. Perry is made of that same metal, in my opinion, and would subject us to more of the same.

Having heard Cain speak on a number of occasions, I believe he is cut from a different cloth. I am so convinced of this that I can't believe the thought of joining the same political machine he has maligned from speech to speech for the last several years has even entered his mind. I am entirely willing to give him a chance, because not doing so will only repeat history ... the Bush Years (not all bad, but not all good either).

I also very much like the statement it makes to support a Tea Party candidate in the face of the GOP machine. The GOP has completely forgotten who brought them to the dance and needs a wake up call. If we don't give it to them, they will only continue to hand us Romneys election after election.

If I believed as you do that Cain is aligned with Romney behind the scenes, I would be on the same page with you. That is our difference in perspective. Having cheered the man on at Tea Party rallies long before he entered this race, I have a different perception of him and am trusting it. If we can get Cain into the executive office, we will be far better off than had we expended that effort on another Bush-like Republican.

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