Herman Cain can help Mitt Romney win the GOP nod. Really.

Washington Post ^ | Oct 5, 2011 | Rachel Weiner

[Clairity]

While Cain is likely to hit a ceiling in the near future, he's effectively dug into Perry's base and helped expose the frontrunner's weakness. Fracturing the anti-Romney vote has made it all the easier for Romney to win.

With New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie out of the race, no one is competing with Romney for moderate Republicans.

Cain himself might not be too upset with that outcome. While he's been a frequent critic of Romney on the trail, he endorsed the tenuous front-runner in 2008.

[Clairity]

Supporting Cain = Supporting Romney. Is that what conservatives really want to do?

If it's not Perry, it's Romney, if it's Romney, it's Obama.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

It’s Myth’s turn, meaning Ubama will get his second term.

[ari-freedom]

Rick Perry can help Mitt Romney win the GOP nod. Really.

[cripplecreek]

I’m not sure we could find the difference.

[ilgipper]

At this point, I’d say the opposite. Perry is down for the count right now, but he can still recover. Only if Perry demonstrates the ability to be an effective campaigner is he even an option now, and I say this as one who was in his corner a few weeks ago.

If Perry makes a big recovery, and Cain stays strong, they need to go head to head for awhile and once a couple actual primary votes help determine which will be better, then the conservative movement needs to coalesce around one or the other to keep Romney out. It is far too early to single out one candidate to be against Romney, and especially when Perry has been terrible to date going head to head. Perry has to up his game in a big way before this type of decision can be made.

[comebacknewt]

Where have we heard that before?

The fix is in. Barring a miracle, Romney will be the candidate.

I think Cain is angling for the VP slot, and is likely to get it. Whether that is enough to hold the GOP together is doubtful.

[marty60]

Cain is riding the wave right now. when the Giant news story is that he wins a poll of 367 “GOP” voters, you know the msm is desperate.

Let’s see how Herm does in the Fundraising poll.

His candidacy makes no sense, he is in it to help Romney, ofthat I am convinced.

How could ANY Tea Party Member support a candidate that says his Tax plan will raise the debt.

[RockinRight]

Bullhockey.

I voted for Romney in ‘08 as well (based on no other alternatives except McCain). Doesn’t mean I will this time.

[svcw]

Ok. I did nit read the article, am responding to your comment. How is my possible vote in the primary for Cain a vote for Romney?

[SuzyQue]

Perhaps Supporting Cain = Supporting Cain. Just a thought...

[BenKenobi]

I’m a tea party supporter.

What’s Mitt’s plan? Same ol’ same ol’?

Mittcare instead of Obamacare? Forcing Catholics to fund abortion and contraceptives?

[Clairity]

I think we need to put all Perry’s positives and negatives on the scale.

Positives:

Pro-life

Pro-gun/2nd Amendment

Pro-Small government

Anti-Tax

Anti-regulation

a “global warming skeptic” — suing the EPA, realizing it’s a job-killer

He has a record of low taxes, low regulation, pro-private enterprise and job creation

Pro-secure border: asked for Naional Guard troops for the border, spent Texas money to secure the border, because the Federal government wouldn’t do it, wants “boots on the ground” to secure the border — for the terrain and river fence is not the best solution, his ideas are better for Texas, he DOES want to secure the border

He said he will repeal Obamacare

He took on trial lawyers and won

Excellent fund raising ability (needed to beat Romney and Obama)

Palin endorsed him and campaigned for him for his reelection campaign and called him “a true conservative”

He can talk without a teleprompter and his speeches are just fine

Negatives:

After Texas Legislature passed law to give in-state tuition to children of illegal immigrants, with only four votes against him, he didn’t veto the measure, “to make a statement”, when his veto would have been easily overridden.

Foot-in-mouth in the debate — let he/she who never said something they regretted throw the first stone, especially after hours of everyone ganging up on him over one or two issues

Are Perry’s negatives so bad that we should rather have Romney walk away with the nomination and then be beaten by Obama? THIS is the real question. Let us take a step back and consider the above.

[so_real]

Sounds like wishful thinking from the establishment to me. Cain can pick up gains from the Bachmann, Santorum, Gingrich, and Perry camps as they leave the race (assuming they do not stage a comeback themselves). Cain also gains the majority of Palin fans sitting on the fence all this time. Romney will gain from Huntsman ... that's about it. After all the barbs he and Perry have been tossing back and forth, I don't think he picks up many Perry supporters. In some polls Cain is already in a statistical tie with Romney. As the field narrows, all things progressing as they are now, Cain emerges the clear victor. And that does not make the establishment happy ... not one bit. But they can't say much about it without angering the Tea Party and minority groups. So, they will just keep trying to convince us that "Cain can't win". I wish them good luck selling that -- because I'm not buying.

[Irenic]

I think Cain is angling for the VP slot, and is likely to get it.
*********************
Yep, that’s the way I see it. Romney/Cain.

I sure hope not.

[Kartographer]

Anyone who doesn’t know Herman Cain is in this to win is either a blind or a just doesn’t care for Cain.

[ken21]

sorry, been there done that.

if it’s romney, i’m not voting.

i voted for 2 bush turds.

[rogue yam]

While Cain is likely to hit a ceiling in the near future...

Mittens is the one who has a ceiling and it seems to be about 25%. I see no reason to presume a ceiling on Cain's part. Over the next month or two conservatives will begin to migrate from the lower-performing candidates to the stronger ones. Cain has performed well these last few weeks and if he keeps it up he could be solidly out front soon.

[Kartographer]

Sarah endorsed him for Governor of Texas, but she said this about the candidates on the stage at the last debate: “Herm Cain is the one up there who doesn’t look like he’s part of that permanent political class. He came from a working class family. He’s had to make it on his own all these years. We respect that. He has an automatic connection with the electorate. We can all relate to him. He knows the issues and problems we face every day and he’s determined to do something about it.”

[bwc2221]

If it weren't for the fact that you Perry Fangirls are serious when you bring this crap up, it would be hilarious.

Let's be truthful: with his ties to crony capitalism, Rick Perry is a lot closer to Mitt Romney than Herman Cain is.

[ncalburt]

Cain was employed as a radio host at Clear Channel which was owned by Romney's holding company.
They are not strangers .