First Thoughts: Why Cain? (MSNBC)

[brooklynite]

from http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/13/8301837-first-thoughts-why-cain">MSNBC First Read:

*** Why Cain? According to our new NBC/WSJ poll, Herman Cain now leads the Republican presidential field, getting 27% among GOP primary voters -- followed by Mitt Romney at 23%, Rick Perry at 16%, and Ron Paul at 11%. But why Cain? Our NBC/WSJ co-pollsters conducted follow-up interviews with Cain supporters and found two typical answers: 1) he’s not a politician, and 2) he’s real. “Cain is a good guy and so real,” said a male respondent from New Jersey. “Cain gives direct answers. He is succinct. He isn’t a politician,” added a male respondent from Washington. “He is plain-spoken and down to Earth,” said a woman from Texas. “It is kind of appealing that he is not in politics,” noted another female from Texas. “I have to be personally honest: I rely a lot on talk-show hosts, people I listen to and respect -- and they respect him. Rush Limbaugh, listen an hour a day,” said a female from Washington.

*** And why not Romney or Perry? “Romney’s Mormonism is kind of scary… Perry is just too much of a fundamentalist Christian for me,” said the man from New Jersey. “Romney is hypocritical. He is a New England politician, and that does not resonate with me… Perry’s debate performance in Florida was a disappointment. I did not like his position on illegal immigrants and funding their education,” said a man from Florida. “Both Romney and Perry are steeped in politics,” said the man from Washington. “I can’t support Romney in the primary because of RomneyCare. I liked Perry until I heard about the HPV vaccine,” said the female from Texas. “Romney has RomneyCare… Perry is a preacher, Romney is suave, and Cain is real,” added a man from Michigan. These are re-interviews with actual respondents, but think of them as more of a focus group…

*** Where Cain over-performs: According to the NBC/WSJ poll, this is pretty fascinating: Cain over-performs vs. Romney in the GOP horse race among high-interest Republican voters, men, those 55-plus, Republicans who have college educations, Tea Party supporters, and those who identify themselves as “very conservative.” Where Romney over-performs: less-interested voters, women, non-Tea Party Republicans, and moderate/liberal Republicans. In fact, re-read the responses from the RE-interviews: These are folks who ARE watching the debates and who are paying attention to the day-to-day campaign. These numbers are yellow flags that border on red for Romney. Why? He’s being propped up by folks who simply are familiar with him, not those who are actively following the campaign. Ouch.

[catbyte]

1. It's interesting that the FEW things Perry & Romney did right

are the things they're being crucified for now--healthcare and treating immigrants like human beings. Tells me everything I need to know about the GOTP.

It must suck to be them.

Diane
Anishinaabe in MI

[oh08dem]

2. Delaying the inevitable

Cain may have been the CEO of Godfathers pizza, but in order to win the nomination he's going to have to kiss the ring of GOP kingmaker Grover Nordquist.

[thereismore]

3. They secretly hope that Cain might split the black vote? nt

[L0oniX]

4. I'm with Able. n/t

[Spider Jerusalem]

5. Answer? Because there are a lot of very stupid people.

Cain's business background recommends him to these people (because they are too stupid to figure out that government is not a business; the only time government should be turning a profit--ie running a surplus--is when said surplus is used to pay off outstanding debts; otherwise, government is not there to turn a profit, but to break even); Cain's harebrained tax scheme is something they like (never mind that it's a regressive nonsense that any serious economist who isn't blinded by right-wing ideology would dismiss out of hand); Cain appeals because he's "not a politician"--and never mind that all of America's most successful chief executives have been men of long political experience; Abraham Lincoln was an Illinois assemblyman and US representative; FDR was Assistant Secretary of the Navy and governor of New York; Theodore Roosevelt was NYC Police Commissioner, New York governor, Assistant Secretary of the Navy and Vice President; Thomas Jefferson was a member of the Virginia Assembly, an ambassador, and vice president. Success in business does not prepare one for success in politics (Herbert Hoover was a successful businessman and civil engineer, as President? Not so great).

[ThomWV]

6. The reason Cain's tax scheme is accepted is because no number is bigger than 10

They can count on either their fingers or their toes.

[lunasun]

8. Some of his confused base may think he is offering them a free

$9.99 pizza if he wins, if they are not listening closely ?
Thats why?
Like a modern day 'chicken in every pot' promise!
Honestly who knows why Cain....these voter's brains are not something I want to pick!

[Raschel]

7. He uses catch phrases, and doesn't get into pesky details. They like the fact that he's angry,

and he insults the people they don't like. Just like Palin.

These people don't want to think, they want to be appealed to emotionally.

I do believe they think that he can beat President Obama because he's Black.