'Herman Cain Is For Real,' Democrats Insist

WASHINGTON -- Yet another poll suggests Republican voters are giving serious consideration to presidential hopeful Herman Cain, the still relatively mysterious pizza magnate who has electrified conservative activists.

The Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling is set to release numbers Wednesday showing Cain in a two-way tie for second place in the GOP primary among Iowa voters. The poll -- which has former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney at 21 percent and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and Cain at 15 percent -- is not, necessarily, an outlier. In a Gallup poll released slightly more than one week ago, Cain registered the highest Positive Intensity Score among Republican voters of anyone either in or thinking of entering the GOP field.

The data points are good enough that Democrats have noticed: The Democratic National Committee began the process of conducting rapid response to his campaign last week.

"Herman Cain is for real and is making a bunch of established pols look weak to ridiculous," a top party strategist emailed the Huffington Post on Tuesday night. "[Tim Pawlenty] has banked his whole shot on Iowa and is getting beat by...Herman Cain? Romney's ahead - so what's Romney's excuse for all but bypassing Iowa altogether?"

The numbers also have given Cain some room for a bit of gloating, as he argued that his grassroots support mitigated the need to raise copious amounts of campaign funds.

"We don't have to raise the most amount of money," he said in an interview with CBS on Wednesday morning. "We just need to raise enough money to be competitive, because there's an element going on in this campaign that money can't buy. The fact that my message is resonating so well, our ground game, our grassroots development is far exceeding a lot of the other candidates."

In the end, however, it remains relatively pointless to draw any long-term conclusions from these early polls. Nor is it incredibly valuable to read into the way the Democratic Party has sobered up to Cain's candidacy.

The Godfather's Pizza CEO remains an unknown figure. He's certainly received the minimal amount of critical press coverage, let alone any pushback from within the Republican Party. And for Democrats, his ascendancy underscores a beneficial storyline: just how bizarre and unpredictable this GOP primary field remains.

Comments

[Joseph Granberg]

06:27 PM on 06/10/2011

Can someone please explaine to me how librals can be so blind to facts and reality! they refuse to except the truth along with responsability of one own actions. And why does the color of someones skin matter so much!!! I thought in America all men and women are to be treated equal....Why don't we try calling ourselves Americans instead of labeling ourselves with subtitles and groups, how can the librals expect us to come together if they continue to drive us apart by seperating everyone who does not comform to there ideals????
Herman Cain is a real leader!!! with real life experience who served in the Navy and has a track record of turning a bad situation into a good situation, he is not a lawyer or a politician AND IS'NT THAT A GOOD THING??? we always say how we hate politicians and lawyers, well... we have a real leader he in Herman Cain with real solutions. I challange all of you to just look at our current situation without labels and ask yourself how would you run the countries finance's and how would you deal with our national security problems if it was your own house??
Then look at Herman Cain (WITHOUT BIAS) and what his message is and ask yourself is he wrong!

[Doug Mallory]

11:02 PM on 06/04/2011

Cain won't make it. He's never held any political office and the government isn't a pizza franchise. As far as people thinking it's okay to privatize social security, you do realize that means when the stock market crashes, your social security money is gone which is why people don't want it privatized. And the vast majority of Americans will never be able to save enough money to retire on and would wind up working until they wind up in their graves so I don't think I'd be too hasty about getting rid of it.

[HLong135]

02:12 PM on 07/08/2011

No, the government isn't a pizza franchise, that's why it's a good thing that Mr. Cain has a BA in Mathematics from Morehouse College. He was also a supervisory mathematician for the Department of the Navy, developing ballistic systems and fire control systems. (Yes, he was a rocket scientist!) He also has a minor in physics. He has his master's degree from Perdue in computer science. He was vice president of systems and services at Pillsbury and served on the board at Coca-cola. He was vice president of the Philadelphia region of Burger King, turning it's lowest performing stores into the highest. He didnt RUN or even OWN a pizza FRANCHISE, he was the president and CEO of the corporation returning it to profitability. He then became the CEO of the National Restaurant Association. He's sat on the board of directors to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City then became it's chairman. He's written several books and hosted a successful radio show. Sooo... in a nutshell, I'd say that Mr. Cain is MORE than qualified to be our President. Not holding political office ISNT a bad thing!
As far as social security, Mr. Cain doesnt advocate for a privatization of SS. He advocates for an opt-out program. There ARE those who are qualified to manage their own retirement funds. One should not be FORCED into a program they do not wish to participate in - especially when the government has pilfered this fund into pennies.

[HBrookins]

02:07 PM on 06/04/2011

Herman Cain is indeed for real and could very well be Obama's worst night mare.
Although he lack national recognition, he is very well known and popular in the South East.

Speaking at the Georgia GOP convention, he had 4,000 on their feet. The very next week, 15,000 showed up to hear his "official" announcement. His crowds at Tea Party rallies and callers on his radio show have been asking him to run for over 2 years now.
Business experience, a Washington outsider and NO Baggage are top pluses for Herman.
Get on the Cain Train or get out of the way!

[jbrantow]

05:25 PM on 06/04/2011

Find out about herman cain...
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/05/24/168633/herman-cain-led-radical-group-that-accused-democrats-of-wanting-to-kill-black-babies/

from his ad.
Herman Cain Led Radical Group That Accused Democrats Of Wanting To Kill ‘Black Babies’
ad featured Herman Cain’s voice:
“If you make a little mistake with one of your ‘hos,’ you’ll want to dispose of that problem tout suite, no questions asked,” one of the men says.
“That’s too cold. I don’t snuff my own seed,” the other replies.
“Maybe you do have a reason to vote Republican,” the first man says.
Listen to the ad: at the above link

[morninglry52]

07:18 PM on 06/03/2011

Well, the Democrat racists are out in droves... all they see is his race, not his character. Yes , they are racists. Anyone that talks about race as an asset or a disadvantage to a group of people are racists. period.

[the avenging angel]

09:53 AM on 06/03/2011

I find it incredibly amusing that the headline here say's Herman Cain is for real. And then in the last sentence of the article they say not to draw any conclusions yet. Typical HP propaganda.

[Nerdiac]

06:07 PM on 06/02/2011

I've never heard of this guy, wtf. If the reproblicants are serious about this dude, they might as well post a sign on their foreheads right now: "LOOK! We gots us one tew!"

[Gabe A Davis]

11:26 AM on 06/03/2011

See that is what happens when you are brainwashed into liberal thinking. There are MANY black republicans. So much for the racist party theory.

[Sammie55]

03:54 PM on 06/03/2011

Not only do we got us one, but he aint even HALF black.

He's ALL black.

[baileywick]

04:12 PM on 06/02/2011

I wish he would have "electrified conservative voters."

[Le Facteur 99]

01:13 PM on 06/02/2011

Rand Paul in blackface

[MiHi1964]

11:35 AM on 06/02/2011

Everyone knows that Cain is real.

The question is, is Cain even a human being? He puts out a Clarence Thomas vibe that's really disturbing and that's the last kind of person we need running our country.

[William Dove]

07:42 PM on 06/02/2011

Oh, if he is black and not a democrat, then he gives off a bad vibe. You know this can't be true. The GOP are racists, he can't have any support.

[MiHi1964]

08:04 PM on 06/02/2011

Reread my comment, pinhead. I said he gives off a Clarence Thomas vibe.

You don't want a guy like Clarence Thomas running the country, do you?

[HBrookins]

02:12 PM on 06/04/2011

Wrong. You should probably look up the Laura Ingrahm radio interview with Harry Alford, head the black chamber of commerce. the tide has tired against Obama.

[Clevelandinwi]

08:33 AM on 06/02/2011

herbert kane is sort of clarence thomas and mickey steele rolled into one great big racist (snti-black) candidate. Knowledge: zero

[Gabe A Davis]

11:30 AM on 06/03/2011

My guess would be that is what you would say about any black repulicans. It must just erk you to know we aren't racist.

[Clevelandinwi]

08:29 AM on 06/02/2011

herbert kane is a new version of rik scon of FL.

[Bubba Love]

08:21 AM on 06/02/2011

What will you libs call us Conservatives that vote for Herman Cain when you can't call us racists anymore? Mr Cain is very well liked by our side and may well become the GOP presidential candidate so you libs will have to find another word to slander us.

[Clevelandinwi]

08:30 AM on 06/02/2011

hUh?

[Bubba Love]

06:57 PM on 06/02/2011

you heard me.

[bikerdude]

09:09 AM on 06/02/2011

I read what you posted and immediately felt sorry for you. If you believe Herm is the best candidate you are free to vote for him. After all the rest of us had no problem voting for a "black" president...It is impossible to "slander" a "conservative". They are guilty of every charge I have leveled against them..

[Bubba Love]

06:58 PM on 06/02/2011

You libs are so inspiring Not.

[jerzygurl]

07:49 AM on 06/02/2011

It'll be interesting watching the same liberals who cry rac ism every time someone disagrees with Obama tear apart this conservative Black Candidate in both his personal life and political stance. Liberals can be so one dimensional and transparent.

[Clevelandinwi]

08:31 AM on 06/02/2011

You obviously haven't checked him out very carefully, have you?

[jerzygurl]

09:08 AM on 06/02/2011

If

[kalannewton]

08:37 AM on 06/02/2011

LOL - conservatives just don't get it. Because conservatives see so many things in terms of race, they believe that Obama was elected, and is supported because of race.

[morninglry52]

07:38 PM on 06/03/2011

Huh? What are you jabbering about? He may not have been elected because of his race and it is Democrats who use his race to divide the country for political gain.

[itsootsme]

09:45 PM on 06/09/2011

Electing Obama because of his race, his ideas, or any other reason illustrates clearly how far America has fallen. He is not worthy to shine Herman Cain's shoes, much less to stand in those of the President of the United States. His resume is a joke compared to anyone else who has run for or occupied the office to date, and he has arguably presided over the most harm ever done to this country in such a short time, on nearly every level one chooses to consider. Even if he were funny, I doubt this clown could get hired by a 2 ring circus. If Obama gets re-elected, if will be thanks to the "entitlement" crowd, resulting in the death of the "Golden Goose", and America becoming a third rate country shortly thereafter. In this event, the meaning of "empowerment" will revert to something very closely approxmating the mindset of our founders, our pioneers, and the rugged individuals who actually add value to our society. In this case we will need to swallow some nasty medicine, but we can't say we don't deserve it, given the apathy and neglect that "we the people" have exhibited over the last two generations or so. As Ben Franklin put it, "We have given you a Republic- if you can keep it." Just now, it's looking kinda shakey. Wake up & stand up for America, or get back on the porch and kiss America as we have known it bye bye...

[AngusC]

07:34 AM on 06/02/2011

I just came back from the gas station and at the intersection was a giant old Ford pickup truck with two giant USA flags hanging off of poles on the back of the bed and various NRA and other stereotypical stickers on the back window.

Do you really think the people like that are going to vote for Herman Cain?

[Bubba Love]

08:15 AM on 06/02/2011

Yes

[bikerdude]

09:11 AM on 06/02/2011

They have voted for worse. Look at what 2 bush terms did to the USA...

[HBrookins]

04:46 PM on 06/04/2011

Yeah ok, Bush left us with one flat tire, but 0bama cut the other 3 and put sand in the crankcase.......... and still blames it on Bush. Sorry, the "blame it on Bush" crutch is done and over.

[WarriorLemming]

07:22 AM on 06/02/2011

Bottom line Cain, do you intend to kill Medicare and Social Security!?!

[Clevelandinwi]

08:31 AM on 06/02/2011

Yes, he does!

[Gabe A Davis]

11:37 AM on 06/03/2011

Social Security should have never exsisted. It is MY money and I should save if I WANT TO. It isn't the government's responisbility to take care of you. It is yours and mine. The government can just give me my money back. they can keep the interest.

[HBrookins]

04:49 PM on 06/04/2011

Medicare is already killed by 0bama-care and socialist security needs to be privatized and keep the money out of government's wasteful hands.