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."
Factually incorrect.
But I do not like a VAT as it has been done in Britain.
Cain would have been over 50% if he’d lose the mustache. So 1970s.
That said, I’d vote for him regardless of facial hair, but if Sarah gets in, he’s got to go VP. I vote for whomever the liberals hate/fear most.
I’ll the Rick Perry in 2012 bumper sticker on my car. Would love to see Cain in his cabinet.
ROTFLMAO
I WILL put that on my car! LOL
No, you don't get it, but that's okay. I expect Cain will fight tooth and nail to get the nomination. He isn't anyone's "seat saver". However, Palin is the superior candidate and that fact will be proved when the time comes. Meanwhile, the better Herman Cain does going through the whole primary process, the better he'll look as a possible veep choice. It isn't a "strategy", it's a prediction on my part. Based on what I know as of today, I could support a Palin/Cain ticket.
BTW, ever notice how many posters here are like sheep? Perry announces and they all run to him. Cain wins a straw poll and they all run to him. Another prediction, those same people will flock to Palin when she clears the deck of the wannabes. They can all thank us then for our unwavering support.(not that it's necessary, helping Palin get elected is a labor of love)
homosexual AGENDA.
I said agenda, and agenda means not just marriage but don’t ask etc.
Now I thought I was clear about that and was very careful not to confine it to just marriage.
See when the feds have to deal with the queer agenda then it involves many aspects of Govt and our lives
I am not voting for anyone who seriously proposes a nine percent national sales tax.
How many electoral votes would Alaska be able to deliver? ..... tsowellfan
What makes you think that Palin would deliver Alaska to our side instead of delivering Alaska to Obama?
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I am certainly glad to see Cain win this over Mittens. Mittens can win all the debates but NO ONE LIKES HIM or TRUST HIM. HA HA.
I find Cain to be very impressive. Strong conservative that never waivers from his beliefs. Loved his comments on the EPA and his hit back at Morgan Freeman over the Tea Party remarks. Cain, Newt, Perry are my top 3 ..Santorum came on strong during the last debate too.
Agree with you whole heartedly. Newt could be in the background doing a lot of the heavy lifting. Awaiting the New Contract with America.
Wow! I love it! I’ve always admired Herman but didn’t think he had the “traction” necessary to win the nomination. Now, I’m hopefully optimistic. Can you imagine the hypocritical angst this would cause among “Holder’s people?” Can you also imagine the hypocritical angst caused among the politically correct MSM? All their arguments - flushed down the drain. Herman could be the “perfect” conservative candidate against “BLACK” Omama. I’m sending him a check in the mail tonight. I challenge all to follow my lead! We could have a winnah...
Saw Drudge tonight and I felt my heart leap. It’s happening. In every election and in every state, conservatism is on fire - I’m not sure we even know how much America has changed...for the better!
The way I read this is that Herman Cain is much more inspiring, while Romney and Perry lack charisma.
I am getting the feeling that, while Perry has apparently been successful in Texas with his policies, he is, therefore, well suited “for Texas” - but everything now indicates that his supported state policies are not well suited for United States policies in general as they apply to the mindset of Republicans as a whole.
This is a very difficult situation for Perry to be in, primarily because he cannot back off now from those positions and the record that he has been defending up through the last debate. This problem could be “terminal”, and the wound is definitely bleeding blood into the water - the question is - are there any formidable sharks in the water circling close by to ...
So Herman Cain enters the race in time to participate, gain some momentum and campaign his butt off and you Palinistas are saying she’ll announce and allow him to be her VP? Uh, no.
Herman Cain deserves the top of the ticket and would make a far better President than Sarah Palin.
Fair Tax is not a VAT. VAT taxes every time value is added to a prouct. Fair Tax taxes it only once.
Totally agree. The geniuses on our side all declared Romney the big winner of the debate during Perry's self-immolation. Well, wrongo.
Fair Tax is not a VAT. VAT taxes every time value is added to a product. Fair Tax taxes it only once.
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