[mike_9958]

I like Cain - but I think he may be over his head for the job of president. No doubt he is way better than Obama, and I'd vote for him in a heartbeat but I think Newt is breaking out and is showing that he has the inspiration and know how of making a real impact rooted in conservative ideas.

[BarnacleCenturion]

“I think Newt is breaking out”

If you vote in Missouri, Newt is not in the race.

[trebb]

I like Cain - but I think he may be over his head for the job of president.

I like him too. He's probably not over his head for the office if he could get in, but he's definitely getting a schooling on how dirty politics is.

[SamAdams76]

I don't agree that Cain is over his head for the job of president. He meets the qualifications and once in the position, has potential to do a better job than many of his predecessors. Clearly he is in over his head with respect to campaigning for the job but should this be a disqualification? If so, then we might as well resign ourselves to the fact that only the slickest, smoothest, establishment-backed candidates need apply for the job.

Remember that the "professional" campaign staffers, who make a career out of this sort of thing, tend to gravitate to the establishment-backed candidates. Thus, there are slim pickings for the "mavericks" out there, who must hire staffers who are not as experienced and seasoned.

Once can only imagine the complexity of building a national campaign operation on shoestring budget in a matter of weeks with amateurs. This is what Cain has been faced with since his campaign started catching fire a few weeks ago. Should Cain survive the next couple months and win an early primary or two, he should benefit by hiring experienced staffers from the campaigns of those who are forced to drop out. Should he get the nomination, he'll have all the necessary resources available to him that are currently engaged in other campaigns (Romney, Gingrich, Perry, etc.) as well as the full backing of the GOP. Thus a Cain general election campaign will have zero resemblance to "fly-by-seat-of-the-pants" operation we are witnessing currently.

[SamAdams76]

I don't agree that Cain is over his head for the job of president. He meets the qualifications and once in the position, has potential to do a better job than many of his predecessors. Clearly he is in over his head with respect to campaigning for the job but should this be a disqualification? If so, then we might as well resign ourselves to the fact that only the slickest, smoothest, establishment-backed candidates need apply for the job.

Remember that the "professional" campaign staffers, who make a career out of this sort of thing, tend to gravitate to the establishment-backed candidates. Thus, there are slim pickings for the "mavericks" out there, who must hire staffers who are not as experienced and seasoned.

Once can only imagine the complexity of building a national campaign operation on shoestring budget in a matter of weeks with amateurs. This is what Cain has been faced with since his campaign started catching fire a few weeks ago. Should Cain survive the next couple months and win an early primary or two, he should benefit by hiring experienced staffers from the campaigns of those who are forced to drop out. Should he get the nomination, he'll have all the necessary resources available to him that are currently engaged in other campaigns (Romney, Gingrich, Perry, etc.) as well as the full backing of the GOP. Thus a Cain general election campaign will have zero resemblance to "fly-by-seat-of-the-pants" operation we are witnessing currently.