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Rick Perry's Prime Directive: Destroy Cain
Hot Air.com ^ | 5:00 pm on October 23, 2011

Posted on 10/23/2011 2:35:52 PM PDT by drewh

The Iowa caucuses are now just 72 days away. Once Iowans vote on Jan. 3, the 2012 campaign for the Republican presidential nomination ceases to be about debates and gaffes and spin, and begins to be about actual results.

This week’s uproar over Herman Cain’s CNN interview with Piers Morgan will likely be a distant and irrelevant memory by Jan. 3. Despite Cain’s rhetorical difficulty in consistently articulating a pro-life position, his bona fides on the issue have long been established, as demonstrated in 2006 when he led a $1 million effort to encourage black voters to vote pro-life.

What should be more troubling for Cain’s supporters are persistent concerns about the strength of his campaign’s “ground game” in Iowa. Organizing for the Iowa caucuses is a time-consuming, labor-intensive effort and 10 weeks is a very short time in terms of building effective operations in each of Iowa’s 99 counties. That’s why many people were startled a week ago when ABC News showed Cain’s Iowa headquarters nearly empty:

Duane Lester of All American Blogger interviewed Cain’s Iowa communications director Lisa Lockwood this weekend at the Iowa Faith & Freedom Forum and asked her about that video:

Lockwood’s explanation — that many of Cain’s volunteers in Iowa are working from home, rather than from the campaign office in Urbandale — may help reassure Cain’s supporters, as do the latest poll numbers from Iowa. But the poll numbers also point toward a looming danger for the Cain campaign:

When you look at the RCP average, you see that every Iowa poll for the past two weeks (beginning with the Oct. 7-10 PPP poll) has shown Cain in first place and Perry in single digits. It is therefore scarcely surprising … that the prime directive of the Perry campaign is now “Destroy Herman Cain.”

Allahpundit yesterday explained what Perry’s situation means going forward:

[W]hile Perry can skip New Hampshire, I think he’s stuck having to compete in Iowa. Sooner or later he’ll have to suck it up and start attacking Cain in earnest.

And this is very much in line with what I wrote Friday:

That the Perry campaign has become a purely negative organization — a machine whose prime directive is the destruction of other non-Romney candidates, leaving Perry as the sole hope for the Anybody But Romney movement — is an inevitable consequence of how the campaign began with the goal of becoming the overnight front-runner. When you begin with that kind of plan, with your campaign organized around the idea of raking in front-runner money, you inevitably encounter a problem when, for example, a poll shows your candidate in sixth place in Iowa. … [T]he Perry campaign’s relentlessly negative message now – the turn to the Dark Side, as it were — is a predictable reaction to the failure of their original plan to become the overnight front-runner and Only Legitimate Alternative to Romney. Those who bought into the original plan, which fell completely apart within six weeks of Perry’s Aug. 13 announcement … are now trapped into an all-or-nothing effort to destroy Herman Cain.

That lengthy contemplation of the strategic logic of the Perry campaign was prompted by an item from Alexander Burns in Politico, showing how Cain has previously given ambiguous answers, based on a Human Events article in 2003, when Cain was beginning his campaign for Senate in Georgia. Having spent enough time on the campaign beat to know how these things happen, I observed: “$17 million buys a lot of opposition research, as well as a team of people paid to disseminate it. Excuse me for suspecting that Politico columnists don’t spend their spare hours reading eight-year-old back issues of Human Events, IYKWIMAITYD.”

Of course, there’s no telling who dug up that 2003 article. Mitt Romney’s also got an ace team of opp-research guys on their staff and, when I mentioned the Politico column in a phone conversation Thursday with Cain campaign communications director J.D. Gordon, he pointed out that Team Obama isn’t exactly shabby when it comes to planting oppo-research hits in the press. So it would be unfair to jump to the conclusion that Team Perry was responsible for that item, however …

The poll numbers in Iowa and the strategic logic of the Perry campaign point inexorably to the necessity of Team Perry “going negative” on Herman Cain — and doing so PDQ, while Perry can still get the maximum advantage of his fund-raising advantage.

Perry finished the third quarter with more than $15 million cash on hand, whereas Cain had about $1.5 million cash on hand. But the Cain campaign is now getting a huge influx of contributions and it has been suggested they may be raking in $200,000 a day online now, which would translate to more than $5 million by the end of October. That would be “Romney-esque money,” as one GOP consultant put it, and if they could keep up that pace, Team Cain might be approaching financial parity with Perry and Romney by Thanksgiving. So if the Perry campaign wants to strike hard on Cain with TV and radio attack ads, it behooves them to do it before the Cain campaign can accumulate the money and organizational resources to fight fire with fire.

And if Team Perry does mount an attack-ad campaign against Cain, they will almost certainly do so in Iowa. The combination of poll numbers and the campaign calendar explains this:

Iowa caucuses ………………… Tuesday, Jan. 3 New Hampshire primary …. Tuesday, Jan. 10 South Carolina primary …… Saturday, Jan. 21 Florida primary ……………… Tuesday, Jan. 31 Nevada caucuses ……………. Saturday, Feb. 4

Notice that there are 10 days separating New Hampshire (Romney’s must-win state) and South Carolina (Perry’s must-win state). If we assume that Mitt wins his must-win, Perry would be under extreme pressure in South Carolina, and the pressure would be even worse if Perry fares poorly in Iowa. And if recent poll numbers are any indication, Perry could fare very poorly indeed in the Hawkeye State:

Public Policy Polling (Oct. 7-10) ………….. Perry 9% (4th place) Insider Advantage (Oct. 16) ……………….. Perry 6% (6th place) University of Iowa (Oct. 12-19) …………… Perry 6% (5th place) Rasmussen (Oct. 19) …………………………. Perry 7% (6th place)

Can the Perry campaign afford for their candidate to finish fourth, fifth or sixth in Iowa? No way, José. They don’t necessarily have to win it, but if Perry finishes as far back as fourth in Iowa on Jan. 3, it’s unlikely he will do much better in New Hampshire on Jan. 10. By the time the South Carolina primary rolls around on Jan. 21, the media will have been doing “death watch” reports on Perry campaign for more than two weeks. If Perry then underperforms in “must-win” South Carolina, there will be another ten days of “death watch” coverage before the crucial Florida primary on Jan. 31. Romney is reputedly strong in Nevada, so by the time votes are counted there on Feb. 4, Perry could be batting .200 in the first five nominating events, and perhaps even 0-for-5 if he were somehow to lose his “must-win” state.

The strategic situation clearly indicates the necessity for Team Perry to leverage their current cash-on-hand advantage by mounting an attack ad campaign against Cain in Iowa, in hope of restoring Perry’s status as the most viable choice for the Anybody But Romney voters, who are a majority in the GOP primary electorate.


TOPICS: Editorial; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Georgia; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: babymamas; feministvictimology; georgia; goaway; gopbots4perry; hermancain; instatetuition; larazarick; openborders; palinsnotrunning; perry4romney; perrywinkle; ricardo; rickperry; rinorick; romneydirtytrick; romneyperry2012; romneytrick; slickrick; smellslikemitt; stealthwelfare; taxinator; texas
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To: McGavin999

Romney is beneath contempt. I’ll give you that inspades.

Governor Perry also has to go for the Tea Party conservative vote and Herman Cain is standing in his way.

Romney doesn’t have a chance at our vote, so that leaves Herman Cain, Michele Bachmann, and maybe Newt Gingrich in Rick Perry’s way.

Right now, I’m pulling for Speaker Newt! I so want him to do well, so he can remain in the race!


21 posted on 10/23/2011 2:53:19 PM PDT by onyx (You're here on FR, so support it! Compiling New Sarah Ping List. Let me know if you want on it.)
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To: Impy

Perry’s record in TX says otherwise—at least he has a record.


22 posted on 10/23/2011 2:54:14 PM PDT by Conservativegreatgrandma
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To: onyx; drewh

After reading the posted material, my wondering thought was, who is hitting whom?

Was their actually a directive that had been discovered to destroy someone? Or is there simply a headline that sounded like such was the case, so that impression would be made. After awhile, the head spins.

The headline maker wants to make someone look bad based on their suppositions and wording, that the someone is guilty of trying to make another person look bad. But in truth, that should make the one look bad who was allegedly trying to make another
person look bad for supposedly making someone look bad.

I got a headache and left the thread so I can go to work and not wonder about this while I’m working...


23 posted on 10/23/2011 2:55:29 PM PDT by txrangerette ("...HOLD TO THE TRUTH; SPEAK WITHOUT FEAR." - Glenn Beck)
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To: gov_bean_ counter
What a stretch. You jump on Perry for what? Because someone said that should be his strategy. Don't you think it wise to wait for some evidence first.

BTW, what is Cain doing to go after Romney? NOTHING!!!

24 posted on 10/23/2011 2:55:52 PM PDT by Conservativegreatgrandma
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To: TexasFreeper2009

Exactly, and while it’s popular to hate Romney here on FR, everyone is giving Cain a pass for not going after Romney.


25 posted on 10/23/2011 2:57:26 PM PDT by Conservativegreatgrandma
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To: Conservativegreatgrandma
Perry’s record in TX says otherwise

No, it doesn't. It shows exactly what I said.

I'd rather have no record than his record.

26 posted on 10/23/2011 2:57:26 PM PDT by Impy (Don't call me red.)
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To: Mr. Mojo
Cain gave Perry a little daylight with the Piers Morgan interview, but Perry must do a lot better in the debates very soon.

Just a hunch, I think Bachmann plays well in the caucus format, she may surprise in Iowa.

27 posted on 10/23/2011 2:57:26 PM PDT by drewh
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To: onyx

I watched Rick Perry listening to Cain yesterday at the Faith and Freedom dinner and he was nodding his head at what Cain was saying. No matter what you think of the man, he will go after Romney. It is far more likely that the other Rick will go after Cain for the Christian conservative voters, he all but has them locked up. You know how these things work onyx, this article is agitprop.


28 posted on 10/23/2011 2:57:36 PM PDT by McGavin999 ("Make what Americans buy, Buy what Americans make, and sell it to the world" Perry 2012)
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To: MNJohnnie

Good point!

The only thing these Perrywinkles are doing is turning everyone against their candidate.

He’s a loser and a has been, another poster called him a dirt-bag. I’m not sure I’d go that far but he’s getting close.


29 posted on 10/23/2011 2:58:38 PM PDT by Carl from Marietta (Herman Cain 2012..get on the CAIN train!)
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To: Conservativegreatgrandma
Shallow.

Romney is stuck at plus/minus 25%. Nobody needs to go after him. Waste of time. His voters don't like the rest of us anyway and would vote for Obie before they would a conservative.

30 posted on 10/23/2011 2:59:45 PM PDT by gov_bean_ counter ( The Prudential Governor... Have you bought your piece of the Rick)
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To: drewh
This ground game that Cain does not have in Iowa is a question I do not understand. Could there be that many Republicans who do not know Cain? Don't think so.. There was no ground game for the TEA Party, We still do not recognize a leader. Yet millions voted, Democrats were beat like baby seals.
31 posted on 10/23/2011 3:00:29 PM PDT by reefdiver ("Let His day's be few And another takes His office")
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To: McGavin999
LOL, the perrywinkles have done nothing but attack cain for days, three got carried away the otherday and found themselves in zotville.
32 posted on 10/23/2011 3:00:29 PM PDT by org.whodat (Just another heartless American, hated by Perry and his fellow demorats.)
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To: Impy
Elaborate. He's created jobs where others are destroying them; he's especially strong on Second Amendment rights; he's extremely pro-life; he understands the necessity of bringing back oil production in the gulf, as well as the US.

Almost any other state would love to have a governor with his record.

33 posted on 10/23/2011 3:00:48 PM PDT by Conservativegreatgrandma
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To: MNJohnnie
Allahpundit is a Romneybot. Of course he wants Perry to attack Cain.

That doesn't mean he's wrong about this. It only stands to reason Perry would try to take out Cain. You go after the guy who's got the voters you want. And you go after the guy who's apparently got less money than you do.

The article makes perfect sense whether the writer is for Romney or not. Full disclosure: I support Cain, but that doesn't change my opinion of Perry's likely strategy.

By the way, do you think the new Perry flat tax idea is designed to take out Romney?

34 posted on 10/23/2011 3:01:45 PM PDT by BfloGuy (Even the opponents of Socialism are dominated by socialist ideas.)
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To: Conservativegreatgrandma; McGavin999
The point is to go after obama! DUH.

Speaker Newt gets it and he's the ONLY ONE and thus, the ONLY adult on the debate stage.

The Romney/Perry Prom King squabbles aren't hurting Romney, or haven't you watched the debates without your rose colored Perry glasses?

Romney is the TV candidate. Ignore him. Go after obama with a vengeance that tells voters that you're the best candidate to take him on in the general election!

35 posted on 10/23/2011 3:01:55 PM PDT by onyx (You're here on FR, so support it! Compiling New Sarah Ping List. Let me know if you want on it.)
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To: reefdiver

Iowa Republicans are not very conservative. And it may be that Tea Party influence is overestimated.


36 posted on 10/23/2011 3:03:03 PM PDT by jjotto ("Ya could look it up!")
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To: Conservativegreatgrandma

Cain not going after willard, what part of beating like a drum do you have a problem with.


37 posted on 10/23/2011 3:03:10 PM PDT by org.whodat (Just another heartless American, hated by Perry and his fellow demorats.)
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To: gov_bean_ counter

Don’agree. Romney needs to be destroyed and run out of town forever!


38 posted on 10/23/2011 3:04:31 PM PDT by tirednvirginia
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To: Conservativegreatgrandma

Shallow again. He “created” jobs by taking them away from other states. He had next to nothing to do with the environment that is Texas. He is finally getting around to burping out some sort of strategy that will make the US competative in a global market. Too little too late.


39 posted on 10/23/2011 3:04:31 PM PDT by gov_bean_ counter ( The Prudential Governor... Have you bought your piece of the Rick)
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To: drewh; jla; jgge

Indicates. Translates. Inevitable.

These “words” are the best you can do? This is the reach of the evidence? Words of prediction, thin air, and innuendo? Setting the table for accusation? LOL! This is all you have against Perry “shennanigans”?????

Not a catch yet, my friends, with THIS fishing expedition, which attributes, in reality, SQUAT to Perry. What HAS been visibly cast over the waters, however, is the blunt Texan’s own words, carved in stone, which so far make the case for JOBS, ENERGY and ACTION AGAINST ABORTION, GUNS and the rest of the Perry Platform rolling out beginning with EDUCATION. Perry has a core, actually. He doesn’t translate and indicate.

Cain seems to be the one doing the indicating and translating day to day.


40 posted on 10/23/2011 3:04:44 PM PDT by RitaOK (TEXAS. It's EXHIBIT A for Rick, who needs to pound the fiction flackers back into the Stone Age.)
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