I think Cain is intelligent (he graduated with a Masters in Computer Science from Purdue, Neil Armstrong's alma mater), but like a lot of intelligent people, he is over-confident about his abilities. Big time politics is not like a bull session. Every utterance is recorded and scrutinized like a mess of oracle bones. Political handlers everywhere are looking at Cain and wincing every time he opens his mouth. I understand the temptation to schmooze the press, but the problem is that the press can't be schmoozed - they are solidly in the tank for Obama.
He needs to figure out with his staff the questions he will be asked and the answers he needs to give before the questions are asked. Political campaigns are like year long job interviews. Why wouldn't he prepare the answers ahead of time?
Because he is not a politician? He just doesn’t think like that. Herman Cain is Herman Cain. Take him or leave him. If you value honesty, clarity and dedication, hands on ability, and you know his many accomplishments, you will stick with Herman Cain through thick or thin. He is a leader. He knows how to take failure into success. What more can we ask? If he makes handlers wince, that is their problem. The people love him.
He doesn’t do things by rote. All the answers he needs he knows already. If he doesn’t know, he will find out. you can take that to the bank.