FOX News/Anderson Robbins Research (D)/Shaw & Company Research (R) 2012 GOP National Primary Poll
- Mitt Romney 23%
- Rick Perry 19%
- Herman Cain 17%
- Newt Gingrich 11%
- Ron Paul 6%
- Jon Huntsman 4%
- Michele Bachmann 3%
- Rick Santorum 3%
- Don’t Know/Other 14%
The Fox News Poll is conducted under the joint direction of Anderson Robbins Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R). The poll is based on live telephone interviews with a national sample of 925 registered voters, and was conducted September 25-27, 2011 in the evenings.
September 28th, 2011 at 6:12 pm
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0911/64662.html#ixzz1ZI9XJ5xG
September 28th, 2011 at 6:13 pm
Still keeping it warm for you Craig. You should get in on the Romney train now, so you won’t look like a bandwagon fan 20 consecutive polls later.
September 28th, 2011 at 6:14 pm
Pizza will most definitely come. If its one thing Mitt and Herman Cain have in common, its pizza.
September 28th, 2011 at 6:15 pm
This Fox poll has a very large MOE of 5 — so they’re saying we have a three way tie. Not buying it.
Cain’s number at 17 is waaaaay too high, when he’s always in the 5-7 range. Romney’s number unchanged and still in the very low 20′s does sound right. And Perry is still averaging in the high 20′s despite this outlier.
September 28th, 2011 at 6:16 pm
Huh. What happened toPerry? He was so…..tea party-ish.
September 28th, 2011 at 6:17 pm
Romney: slow and steady wins the race
Perry is toast.
Cain is the new flavor of the month.
Gingrich has recovered.
Paul is Paul.
Huntsman is finally gaining traction, so he will be in the next debate.
Bachmann is finished.
Sanotorum is not gaining much traction over previous polling.
September 28th, 2011 at 6:18 pm
4
Craig, things can change in the course of just a few days. All your old polls are obsolete.
The Thursday debate and FL straw poll were game-changers. We’re in a new era, and Perry is on his way down, Bachmann style.
September 28th, 2011 at 6:18 pm
What I love is that Romney’s support has stayed steady, whereas Perry is wildly fluctuating.
I thought Romney’s support was supposed to be a mile wide and an inch deep.
Turns out a core group of about 20-25% are firmly committed. That’ll win early contests and take him to the nomination.
P.S. Hi! I’m Craig. I quote all polls, except the reputable ones with which I disagree.
September 28th, 2011 at 6:21 pm
When you have Britt Hume saying, Perry threw up all over himself………….that pretty much does you in. It’s just a matter of time.
September 28th, 2011 at 6:22 pm
Craig for Perry/Random Homeless Guy is actually engaged in a clever piece of performance art.
Kinda reminds me of poster Ohio Joe, who would greet every negative poll in 2008 with a single word: “bunk.” Of course, the pollsters in 2008 had the race pretty well nailed.
But Craig for Perry / Conrad Murray is certainly entertaining!
September 28th, 2011 at 6:22 pm
Nice trend line for perry.
September 28th, 2011 at 6:23 pm
Rombots get their ONE day in the sun. We’ll soon learn if Perry’s low 19 in this poll (when he averages about 30) is merely an outlier.
18. Fox News Polling 9/25 – 9/27 19 23 Romney +4 (MOE +/-5)
National Polling: 17 Straight 1st Places for Rick Perry..
17. CNN/OR-W/O Palin 9/23 – 9/25 30 22 Perry +8
16. RasmussenReports 9/19 – 9/19 28 24 Perry +4
15. McClatchy / Marist 9/13 – 9/14 30 22 Perry +8
14. USAToday/Gallup 9/15 – 9/18 31 24 Perry +7
13. CBSNew/NYTime 9/10 – 9/15 23 16 Perry +7
12. Bloomberg Polling 9/9 – 9/12 26 22 Perry +4
11. CNN/OpiResearch 9/9 – 9/11 30 18 Perry +12
10. Public Policy P(D) 9/8 – 9/11 31 18 Perry +13
9. ABCNews/WashPost 8/29 – 9/1 29 23 Perry +6
8. Politico/GW/Battle 8/28 – 9/1 36 17 Perry +19
7. FOX News Polling 8/29 – 8/31 26 18 Perry +8
6. NBCNews/WallSJ 8/27 – 8/31 38 23 Perry +15
5. CNN/OpinResear 8/24 – 8/25 27 14 Perry +13
4. Quinnipiac Polling 8/16 – 8/27 24 18 Perry +6
3. Public Policy P(D) 8/18 – 8/21 27 17 Perry +10
2. Gallup Polling … 8/17 – 8/21 25 14 Perry +11
1. RasmussRepor 8/15 – 8/15 29 18 Perry +11
^ PERRY ENTERED THE FIELD ON 8/13/11
September 28th, 2011 at 6:24 pm
I believe Christie’s not getting in will eventually help Romney move up.
September 28th, 2011 at 6:28 pm
I dunno, Rombots.
Cain’s magical rise to 17 seems awfully tough to sustain. The only reason for it is that Perry obviously disappointed in the debate. Cain has zero knowledge on foreign policy and no political experience. Yet now he is another in a seemingly unending series of folks that finds himself within spitting distance of Romney.
It also says that there is a pretty large contingent of the GOP that will flock to any semi-viable candidate who isn’t Romney.
This is Perry’s to lose. Romney is going to be getting a lot more scrutiny now. If Perry can get a semi-decent debate (like W’s second and third debates with Kerry in 2004, after a HORRID first debate) then he’ll recover a lot of that support from Cain. If not, then Romney is probably the nominee.
I’m sorry but I just don’t see the GOP nominating some random black man with no political experience.
September 28th, 2011 at 6:28 pm
12:
Yes. We will see.
But you’re not fooling anyone by bringing up the RCP average. Bringing up the past doesn’t change the present. And, if you’ll take a look at your own polls, you’ll see that Perry’s been trending downward for the last few weeks anyway.
Thursday was a final shock to the system. It’s now become okay to point out the wang on the naked emperor. Perry can’t recover from that because he doesn’t have the tools to be anything but a frontrunner.
September 28th, 2011 at 6:31 pm
Craig your constant cutting and pasting is more than annoying, especially because most of the time you’re not making an reasoned arguments and pasting your own comments (ex: “Comedy Gold!”). I like you as a conservative brother, but please man, support your candidate in a different way.
As for this poll, it should be both encouraging and discouraging at the same time. Perry is falling back to Earth, but it appears a lot of his support is going to Cain. Even though Cain would support Romney over Perry, I suspect Cain’s supporters would be less eager to do so. I think most of Cain’s support would rally to the anti-Romney candidate that has a shot at winning (if it’s not Cain at the time of the primaries). If you combine Perry and Cain’s numbers, it’s bad news for Romney.
The long and short of it? Romney appears to have a ceiling that he may be able to break out of, but his best shot is that the other candidates tear each other apart leaving him to come out winning by way of plurality or just by looking the most electable–which he is.
September 28th, 2011 at 6:33 pm
14- What does Cain being black have anything to do with it? I would feel safer at night knowing Cain is in charge of the economy than Perry.
September 28th, 2011 at 6:34 pm
Herman Cain will not support Rick Perry as the nominee.
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/cain-not-support-perry-wins-nomination-213442984.html
September 28th, 2011 at 6:37 pm
Being a current 10 1/2 year governor (Perry) is a full time job especially when your setting the climate for your state to create more jobs than the other 49 states combined.
Mr. 47th (Romney) in job growth during his lone term decided to not run for re-election but instead has spent six long years unsuccessfully running for president only to be embarrassed in state after state after state after state……
WSJ Washington Wire:
Anita Perry: Rick Perry ‘Will Be Better Prepared’ for Next Debate http://on.wsj.com/qDShSA
1 hour ago Favorite Retweet Reply
September 28th, 2011 at 6:37 pm
Craig, 5 polls were posted on this site today. Romney won 5 out of 5 of them. And you still think he hasn’t retaken the front runner position?
September 28th, 2011 at 6:38 pm
Craig, he better be better prepared. Otherwise, he’s done.
September 28th, 2011 at 6:40 pm
Perry is so August.
September 28th, 2011 at 6:40 pm
Looks like Perry peaked at the end of august.
September 28th, 2011 at 6:40 pm
7.
Plus, Perry’s blatant lies in his video attacks on Romney are undoubtedly turning people off as they see that Perry really has nothing going for him.
All polling coming out now, except the CNN pro-Obama poll, has Romney trending up while Perry trends down. People are beginning to see that Romney is both conservative and pragmatic in his views.
Perry’s supporters will eventually come around.
September 28th, 2011 at 6:41 pm
do you all agree with this this say palin and chris cristie must make final 2012 decision deadlind oct. 31 on halloween at the very latest I personally think even at halloween might be too late?? http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/09/28/republicans_face_halloween_deadline.html
September 28th, 2011 at 6:41 pm
Funny his wife says that. His campaign says they’re not changing anything, except loading up on the vitriol that, so far, is working out beautifully.
Romney is, simply put, a much smarter, wittier, craftier, shrewder man. He will parry all of Perry’s BS, and the sheer amount brushed off will make Perry look like an over-aggressive ass-clown.
September 28th, 2011 at 6:42 pm
Fair question. I’m with you. It shouldn’t matter.
But here’s a guy with ZERO political experience. He ran a moderate pizza chain. Part of his appeal is that in supporting him, conservatives can hate Obama and still appear to not be racist.
Now if a Cain was a white guy with the same credentials – does anyone seriously believe we’d even be talking about him? I mean, honestly, on a gut check level…
How many other moderately successful businessmen with zero political experience have been viable in Republican primaries in recent decades?
September 28th, 2011 at 6:42 pm
@Matt Lewis
Hannity notes that RomneyCare is Mitt’s “one big huge sore spot.” (Romney responds: “Every candidate has a ‘but’…)
1 hour ago Favorite Retweet Reply
September 28th, 2011 at 6:42 pm
Also, has Perry proposed ONE single actual idea in this campaign? He has been at this for almost two months.
All hat, no cattle. Where’s the beef?
September 28th, 2011 at 6:44 pm
The more I observe the Perry campaign, the more arrogant it appears. It’s raison d’etre for the Perry candidacy boils down to he’s conservative, Texas has a good jobs record, and he’s not Mitt Romney. And that was enough.
He never seems to actually ASK anybody for their vote. And everybody likes to be asked.
September 28th, 2011 at 6:44 pm
Perry took Texas from 4th in unemployment to 27th. What a joke. The true measure of economic health in a state is the employment status of its citizens
September 28th, 2011 at 6:44 pm
19
I’m so glad little Ricky is going to have his wife make sure he gets his lessons done this time. That is pure gold!!
September 28th, 2011 at 6:45 pm
I just want you all to notice something – where are all the Rombots gnashing their teeth and assailing Herman Cain?
Not much of that going on.
Know why?
Because he’s not a slimy, corrupt, illegal pandering, lying, stupid, arrogant, China-pandering, open borders-supporting, bi-national health insurance-supporting LOSER.
That’s why.
September 28th, 2011 at 6:45 pm
Matt (MWS), hey, I think this means Huntsman gets to be in the next debate
September 28th, 2011 at 6:46 pm
13.
“…I don’t believe that for those people who came here illegally, we should be subsidizing with taxpayer money, through in-state tuition, their education. And let me be very clear from my perspective: That is not a heartless position that is a common sense position.”
– New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie during a talk at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library taking a swipe at GOP frontrunner Rick Perry.
Christie made it clear he is not running, and this is a clear signal to his supporters that they should support Romney.
September 28th, 2011 at 6:47 pm
This is a nice move all in all..
@CarrieNBCNews
Perry walks back “heartless” to NewsMax: I was “a bit over-passionate by using that word & it was inappropriate” http://bit.ly/q4UVn5
2 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply
September 28th, 2011 at 6:47 pm
Good point, MassCon.
September 28th, 2011 at 6:48 pm
Here, I will pull a Craig for anyone 2012:
Mitt Romney 23%
Rick Perry 19%
Herman Cain 17% Goes to Romney
Newt Gingrich 11% Goes to Romney
Ron Paul 6%
Jon Huntsman 4% Goes to Romney
Michele Bachmann 3% Goes to Perry (maybe)
Rick Santorum 3% Goes to Romney
Romney 58%
Perry 22%
September 28th, 2011 at 6:48 pm
36, if that was Mittens, you’d call it a flip-flop.
September 28th, 2011 at 6:49 pm
Does that mean he’ll take a nap before the debate instead of during it?
September 28th, 2011 at 6:49 pm
36 Perrywinckle
So Perry Flip Flops again, so sad, so many flips and flops for Ricky cottontail it’s hard to keep up with them all.
September 28th, 2011 at 6:50 pm
36
What a flip-flopper!
September 28th, 2011 at 6:50 pm
27- I don’t know if you’re a racist bigot or sincerely expressing your concerns, but you’re focused way too much on race. You think Cain’s support is a manifestation of Republicans’ desire to “hate Obama” without apearing racist??
If anything it’s an expression of a dissatisfied base.
September 28th, 2011 at 6:51 pm
Wow, it’s not getting better for BO. Hey, let’s nominate a conservative — not an Obama-Lite like Romney/Huntsman/McCain! Who’s with me?
!
Obama Job Approval: Approve 40% (-2)/Disapprove 51% (+2) Get the full trend … http://bit.ly/lS4ZF #Obama #Gallup
2 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply
September 28th, 2011 at 6:51 pm
So, Perry is going to more ready next time. Does that mean he is Governor Red Bull or Governor Viagra?
September 28th, 2011 at 6:52 pm
45:
Governor Cialis!
September 28th, 2011 at 6:53 pm
#33…..Amen…
September 28th, 2011 at 6:53 pm
35, Tony, well… at least who NOT to vote for.
September 28th, 2011 at 6:56 pm
#40..Wow, Mommy Perry is going to make sure Ricky does his homework…
COMEDY.GOLD.!!
September 28th, 2011 at 6:57 pm
Ouch! Obama aka Toast is going to fight dirty to win in ’12..
RasmussenPoll @Scott Rasmussen
17% Say U.S. Heading In Right Direction… http://tinyurl.com/RR3420
2 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply
September 28th, 2011 at 6:59 pm
#44…
“Whose with me?”
Famous last words of Baghdad Bob before he was never seen in Baghdad again.
COMEDY.GOLD.!!
September 28th, 2011 at 7:00 pm
#44….Baghdad/Shaughnessy Craig
I think you meant to say you are finally going to get with the rest of us
…
September 28th, 2011 at 7:01 pm
Has the White House even done the math?
@AndrewStilesNRO
Obama’s Jobs “Plan”: Spend $447 Billion to create 288,000 jobs over two years http://bit.ly/n2fnNu
1 hour ago Favorite Retweet Reply
September 28th, 2011 at 7:03 pm
Craig, why are you all of a sudden posting a bunch of Obama stuff. Eye on the ball, dude.
September 28th, 2011 at 7:04 pm
#53…Baghdad/Shaughnessy Craig
Your last few posts have been very Palinesque.
Are trying to give it to us slowly by changing the subject, to let us know you will soon be getting off the train wreck that is the Perry Express? …
September 28th, 2011 at 7:05 pm
Ok folks, lets see based on today’s numbers. Cain in up to 17 from where did that come from? He’s only 6 or 7 in Pa and Ohio. Mitt is leading in both those states and moving up on each poll. MI and NH Mitt is leading by a landslide. Mitt is now ahead in FL and moving up. The power brokers in IO, SC and NH have intensified in those states towards Mitt. Perry’s campaign says they’ll attack more. Mr. Perry is going to be evaluated at every debate now based on that last one. No one here talks about the ground game Mitt has been developing. He’d be a bunch smarter telling us his economic plan, rather then buying false advertising to sling mud at his opponent. Finally he hasn’t yet been completely vetted.
September 28th, 2011 at 7:06 pm
No. It’s because you don’t really think he could beat Romney.
September 28th, 2011 at 7:10 pm
57
I believe Cain to be able to beat Romney to the extent I believe anyone in this field could beat Romney – not much of a shot for any of them.
September 28th, 2011 at 7:12 pm
Craig attacking a FOX News poll. Instant gold!
September 28th, 2011 at 7:12 pm
Perry can’t beat Romney. He comes off as stupid. He makes a horrible first impression
September 28th, 2011 at 7:14 pm
58 – Well that’s simply not grounded in reality. If Perry was marginally better in debates, he’d still be crushing Romney.
And it’s funny how the Rombots are saying wonderful things about Huckabee – now that they think he could help Romney establish cred with the so-cons.
It’s fine. It’s the way the game is played. But Rombots savage anyone that is a threat to Romney. The fact that they aren’t doing so with Cain only indicates that he isn’t perceived as a threat. But I’ll bookmark this page. Should Cain climb ahead of Romney – watch how the rhetoric among the Rombots shifts.
September 28th, 2011 at 7:14 pm
43. In reply to SojoTru’s post 27, TarheelRepublican Says:
SojoTru appears to be bigoted against Mormons, too. His/her previous posts attacking Romney focused way too much on the fact that he and some of his supporters are Mormon.
September 28th, 2011 at 7:18 pm
43 – 62,
How about addressing the point?
Which mid-level business entrepraneur in recent memory has ever been viable in a GOP primary?
Racist?
Look dude, if it’s Romney versus Cain then my vote is for Cain.
September 28th, 2011 at 7:20 pm
The most common refrain heard about Perry across the country is along the lines of, “he is not that bright.”
Contrary to popular belief in the South, Americans want a smart person on office. I don’t know how he undies the dummy damage that he has already taken on. It is a tough first impression to overcome.
September 28th, 2011 at 7:20 pm
And by the way – anyone that doesn’t think that a big part of Cain’s appeal is the (misguided) idea he can shield Republicans from liberal charges of racism in a general election against Obama is deluding themselves.
September 28th, 2011 at 7:23 pm
61
I’ll pretend for a second that Cain is ahead of Romney. Here’s what I’d be saying:
“Our party can’t be nominating Herman Cain. He’s vastly unqualified for office and he’d get crushed by Obama.”
Now, let’s contrast that with what I’ve been saying about Rick Perry (which is ALL TRUE):
“He’s a slimy, corrupt, illegal pandering, lying, stupid, arrogant, China-pandering, open borders-supporting, bi-national health insurance-supporting LOSER. He is corrupt to the core, and he would sell out Americans to multi-national corporations, the Chinese, and the Mexicans. He just comes OFF as a crook, and it’s WORSE that he IS one.”
September 28th, 2011 at 7:26 pm
Oh well, take care all — I guess I’ll go watch the Red Sox and Rays games……not much will happen with Perry and Romney until the October debates. The field is now officially set, imho
SarahPalinUSA Sarah Palin
L’shanah tovah! Happy New Year! Facebook me!
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@GovMikeHuckabee
Stop making left turns Mr. President. Start using common sense and we will get Americans back to work. Read more here. http://tinyurl.com/3rujnej
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September 28th, 2011 at 7:27 pm
66 – I believe that you believe that.
But no one has really dug all that deeply into Cain’s business past. I guarantee you that should Cain rise in the polls, some Rombot somewhere is going to get his “aha! Corruption!” moment. Just like with Huckabee. Just like with Perry. Just like with Palin. Just like with Bachmann.
The argument will be that Cain’s unqualified for office. But it certainly won’t be limited to that.
September 28th, 2011 at 7:32 pm
Sojo–and so all the Romnots are respectful and kind regarding Romney?
September 28th, 2011 at 7:33 pm
Craig says ”
This Fox poll has a very large MOE of 5 — so they’re saying we have a three way tie. Not buying it.”. OF COURSE YOU ARE NOT. Wouldn’t have expected anything honest from you
September 28th, 2011 at 7:34 pm
Craig sure used to wag his finger a lot at Romney and supporters for Romney’s contrast ads in Iowa 2008. Told us that Iowans DO NOT like attack ads and going negative. He used to bring that up quite a lot. For some reason, he’s been silent on that topic for a while.
September 28th, 2011 at 7:35 pm
Sojourner – #61
I am a Romney fan. I’ve said positive things about Huckabee for a long, long time. The man is a natural when it comes to retail politics and using few $$$ to get lots of votes. He obviously really, really, excites Evangelicals who mainly vote on the Life issue.
I’ve also said negative things about Huckabee; seems to bear grudges more than is seemly for POTUS candidate, wasn’t afraid to use coded language to try and instigate Evangelicals to come support him against the “Mormon.” Huckabee’s charitable approach to granting commutations and pardons is also questionable.
All that said, for rounding out a Romney ticket, I think he’d be awesome. Double down on support of Israel; double down on the experience/capable leader argument, fill in the hole with Romney on the Life issue for Evangelicals, blow Biden away in a debate, lessens the “looks like the guy who fired you” argument, and all his skeletons are probably known, so you don’t have some nasty surprise waiting for you the week after the ticket is announced.
After saying all of that… there’s still a lot of campaigning to do, and Romney’s got a long way to go before getting the privilege of asking anyone to join him on the GOP ticket. I don’t know that Huckabee would say “Yes” if he were asked. He’s got a great gig right now.
September 28th, 2011 at 7:36 pm
68 – I never claimed that. But read #33.
The idea that Romboosters are respectful to everyone except Perry because he’s supposedly “oh so corrupt” is nonsense.
September 28th, 2011 at 7:36 pm
67
I can speak for myself on this… I don’t attack a candidate on something unless it bothers me.
Surely, some Rombots would attack Cain on things other than his capability of being president.
What really pissed me off about Perry was the absolute messianic treatment he got from the so-called “Conservatives” on Fox News and talk radio. It was disgusting to watch. When I see Eric Bolling on “The Five,” I want to knock his block off.
Anyone who supports Rick Perry, knowing what they know about his past on vaccinations, immigration, and crony capitalism… let’s just say I don’t have any respect for those people. None.
Perry is a classic opportunist crook who puts corporations and foreigners above Americans, just for the sake of international and political status.
September 28th, 2011 at 7:39 pm
#72 – Sojourner
“Rombooster” – I love it!!!
And you’re right that not every Romney fan is polite and respectful. Neither is every fan of the other candidates. I’m responsible for me, though, not for anyone else. You, on the other hand, are responsible for you, and no one else.
September 28th, 2011 at 7:41 pm
73 – Fine. But before you were speaking for “Rombots”.
But again, watch how things play out. I suspect that if Perry can’t recover from being woefully inadequate in debates – you’re going to see Fox News people flock to Cain. And the Romney people are going to dig up dirt. And the idea that Cain lacks specifics is going to be more irritating. The idea that Cain won’t be getting harsh media treatment from the Right would be just as digusting, no doubt, from your point of view.
Fox News dislikes Romney a lot more than they ever liked Perry. I’m not entirely sure why, or if it is for the same reasons many in the base are skeptical of him. But it is what it is.
September 28th, 2011 at 7:43 pm
And right on cue, Dennis Miller is telling O’Reilly why he is endorsing Cain.
Not that Dennis Miller has some great political insight – but it’s funny how I just heard it NOW. Perfect timing.
September 28th, 2011 at 7:44 pm
HUNTSMANIA ROLLS ON!!!!
It’s all over but cryin’ folks.
Craig for Perry has about 3 weeks to find a new home.
September 28th, 2011 at 7:46 pm
Dennis Miller’s endorsement of Cain was announced a couple of days ago, I believe. He’s a funny guy who is very conservative. I certainly respect him, but can’t stand his radio show… Ugh.
I’m just not enough of a Lakers fan or an erudite in the entertainment industry to get his radio show.
September 28th, 2011 at 7:46 pm
Doug,
“Perry is so August.”
Huntsman will be so January.
September 28th, 2011 at 7:51 pm
75
If Cain starts being pumped up by Fox IN THE FACE OF subjugating the rights of pre-teen girls and taxpayers in favor of illegal aliens and large corporations, you will see me ravaging Cain this site the way I did to Perry.
I haven’t seen anything like that from Cain. From what I can tell, he’s a nice man, who loves everyone else as much as he loves himself, and he’s a guy I’d have fun hanging out with.
Perry, on the other hand, is an abrasive jerk with a serious problem when it comes to loving and respecting the rights of Americans above foreigners and large corporations.
If my impression of Cain changes, it won’t reflect poll numbers. It will reflect whether I believe his motives are pure.
September 28th, 2011 at 7:55 pm
The Herminator! Rock You Like a HermanCain! Finally, a citizen president. Since Perry’s obviously not up to, well, even staying awake during a debate, Republicans should coalesce around a guy who’s proven he can start from nothing and come out a winner. It’s the story of his life.
September 28th, 2011 at 7:57 pm
Not sure if this is good news for Mitt or not. It’s kind of a mixed bag. Being on top again in polls is good but now he becomes the target. He’s a target to his opponents, a target for Obama and his minions, and a target for the liberal press with an agenda to diminish the standing of whoever the presumed Republican nominee is.
My opinion is that it would’ve been better for Romney had Perry stayed ahead for another 4-6 weeks. Perry is tanking too soon.
On the other hand, leading Republicans could begin to rally around Romney allowing him to rack up endorsements and build a greater war chest making him more likely to be able to weather the attacks and create the all-important sense of inevitability.
September 28th, 2011 at 7:58 pm
81. He has a lot of positives, certainly. Glad he’s running–he adds some good things to the race. Question for me, though, is how much on-the-job training will he need.
September 28th, 2011 at 7:58 pm
ogrepete,
You’re definitely the friendliest Rombooster at Race, an all-around swell guy.
September 28th, 2011 at 8:03 pm
83. conceded. He seems to have shown himself, at least during the debates, as quite a quick learner. I’m not going to support incompetence in that regard, considering how badly Obama has handled foreign policy. I feel comfortable with his intelligence and ability to handle the job. I like him because he’s not a life-long politician (which some (crazily) portray as a negative). He seems very genuine (which neither Mitt or Perry do to me), and he’s proven throughout his life to be a fighter. I’ll toe the line with whomever wins, but I really feel like I could be enthusiastic for Herman; the others? Meh.
September 28th, 2011 at 8:10 pm
81.
“Rock You Like a HermanCain!”
Hilarious, great line. However, I think anyone running for POTUS should have at least one term as a governor or US senator or two terms as a congressman to be qualified. Did Cain hire managers with no restaurant experience to run his stores?
September 28th, 2011 at 8:10 pm
This is from an wsj online article regarding Cain’s credibility as a presidential candidate:
“Put it this way: The GOP nominee is running against the incumbent president. Unlike the incumbent, Herman Cain has at least twice identified the causes of a large failing enterprise, designed goals, achieved them, and by all accounts inspired the people he was supposed to lead. Not least, Mr. Cain’s life experience suggests that, unlike the incumbent, he will adjust his ideas to reality.”
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204226204576599031274832242.html?mod=rss_opinion_main
September 28th, 2011 at 8:12 pm
Why must one have been a politician to be qualified to be pres. Insane. It’s called executive leadership. Politicians are the worst at it. That line is insane and infuriating and shows one of the reasons our country is in trouble; we keep hiring the fox to guard the henhouse.
September 28th, 2011 at 8:16 pm
87.
“…adjust his ideas to reality.”
I’m guessing a key reality to turning around a struggling franchise was hiring competent, qualified people with restaurant experience to run his stores.
September 28th, 2011 at 8:18 pm
Yeah, because only a politician can balance a budget and grow revenue! Makes perfect sense.
September 28th, 2011 at 8:21 pm
88.
Cain is running for President, doesn’t that make him a politician? I’d be ok with him as VP, but CEO of Godfather’s Pizza to POTUS? You can’t be serious.
September 28th, 2011 at 8:23 pm
I am a Romney supporter and I think Cain is great! If Romney dropped out for some reason, I would support Cain. I am very much in favor of a flat tax, and I think he has great conservative credentials. I would be thrilled if he is the nominee.
He will get votes from Republicans across the political spectrum, liberal, moderate, and conservative. Democrats, liberals and the left know Obama failed miserably, and if they know if they vote for Cain, they would be electing two black Presidents in a row.
Only a fool would deny that many people wanted a black President simply because he is black. It is historical and a giant leap forward in equality, but again, Obama failed miserably. A Herman Cain Presidency would make history.
September 28th, 2011 at 8:24 pm
Oh, you’re obviously right. Governors, senators, and congressmen have done such a wonderful job with our economy lately…
September 28th, 2011 at 8:24 pm
mac – #84
Not sure how serious you were with the “swell guy” comment, but thank you.
September 28th, 2011 at 8:24 pm
I’m all for private sector experience prior to assuming office, but to go from running a mid-level corporation to running the federal government of the United States?
September 28th, 2011 at 8:27 pm
Pretty good numbers for anyone who’s name doesn’t rhyme with Nick Derry (except for Bachmann but I can’t rhyme that).
There’s no reason really for anyone to drop out. We have at least 3.5 months until the start of the primaries; no reason to narrow the field until people start voting.
September 28th, 2011 at 8:28 pm
94. ogre, no sarcasm intended, I really appreciate the civility and friendliness you extend to everyone at race, you’re a great ambassador for Mittnation.
September 28th, 2011 at 8:31 pm
63.
SojoTru clearly indicates that a “mid-level business entrepreneur” is not “viable in a GOP primary,” and then states that he/she would vote for the mid-level business entrepreneur instead of Romney.
September 28th, 2011 at 8:31 pm
93. Some Governors, senators, and congressmen are better than others, but the same goes for managers and CEO’s. Again, I like Cain, but the guy is actually a talk radio show host turned politician.
September 28th, 2011 at 8:32 pm
Mac, I’m sorry if I cam across as a d***, but I can’t stand that argument; it’s baseless and has resulted in us getting people like Obama in the Oval Office. I think it’s high time we did get a citizen in the WH for a change. No disrespect intended though.
September 28th, 2011 at 8:32 pm
Yeah, but doesn’t governing require a certain understanding of how exactly government works? I hear ya’ on the fake politician thing, but still…I don’t believe running a business is exactly like running government.
Some like a Romney/Cain ticket…except for Cain’s lack of experience in government.
On the other hand, Bill Clinton was governor for many years and he and his team were completely flumoxed when they got to the White House.
This time around we really don’t have a lot of time to spend on on-the-job training. Whoever we elect better be a quick study.
September 28th, 2011 at 8:32 pm
A far larger part of his appeal is his exceptional talent as a speaker — which is a major component of his charisma. Nobody else in the field has the ability to talk like that.
Hard to say. Did any other “white guy with the same credentials” go on to challenge Bill Clinton on HillaryCare, have a talk radio and motivational speaking gig, and become a darling of the Teaper movement everywhere he spoke?
How about we deal with individuals and not just overly broad identity group assumptions alone.
September 28th, 2011 at 8:32 pm
I don’t see how either Cain or Perry can become the true Anti-Romney at this point. Both have too many negatives.
Perry: mushy on immigration, can’t form coherent sentence to save his life, opposed to state power except and until donors can benefit from it (or until 12 yr old girls are involved, depending on which one bothers you more).
Cain: out of his depth on all issues except for ones dealing with business and economics, has no foreign policy, made infamous anti-Muslim comments.
Neither is going to be able to consolidate the Anybody But Mitt vote, and at best they’ll divide it and give Romney the nomination.
September 28th, 2011 at 8:33 pm
Jack Bauer,
Not all executive experience is identical, or interchangeable. Running Apple Computer is not the same as running a nuclear submarine under DefCon 2, which is not the same as being governor, which is not the same as being President. Some types of executive experience is more amenable to other types. As much as a like what Cain has to say, the politics of a private corporation are nothing like the politics of government, where you are dealing with people you can’t fire.
September 28th, 2011 at 8:34 pm
Dave,
“I don’t see how either Cain or Perry can become the true Anti-Romney at this point. Both have too many negatives.”
That’s because- irony of ironies- Huntsman is going to be the anti-Romney.
September 28th, 2011 at 8:37 pm
#105 Matt: I suspect in the voter’s mind, Huntsman is just a pale version of Romney.
September 28th, 2011 at 8:40 pm
It’s going to be interesting to see who will come out of Iowa. Will there NOT be a clear competitor for Romney? Will a damaged Perry limp out of Iowa. Will Bachmann appear to come out of nowhere? Will Cain pull out the upset in Iowa? I don’t think any of them have much of a chance at this point. There’s no clear competition for Romney. Perry can’t debate. Bachmann doesn’t have the best experience, makes odd statements, and hasn’t garnered much attention. Cain has zero political experience, doesn’t have as good business experience as Romney, and has some policies that will never take off.
September 28th, 2011 at 8:42 pm
RCP’s poll graph is looking pretty good.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/republican_presidential_nomination-1452.html
September 28th, 2011 at 8:43 pm
100. JBD, no problem.
September 28th, 2011 at 8:43 pm
ogre,
I’ll second the “swell guy” comment. You’re probably the most genuinely nice guy on this board.
September 28th, 2011 at 8:44 pm
JB’s Dad, nicely put. For all the carping and back-and-forth, a lot of executive leadership involves delegating to folks with specific areas of responsibility, and then holding them accountable for their performance. In business and politics, the ability to lead is aided by native talents to present your arguments convincingly, including the amorphous and hard-to-pin-down quality of charisma.
It’s not as if Cain were some random dope who just ambled lazily onto the scene. He’s got a record of private sector achievements that involved his managerial skills, through lean and fat times. This is something that I think makes Cain instantly relatable to small- and mid-sized businessfolk. They know that Cain understands the challenges they face, and knows how specifically government stands in the way.
And just in case anyone should forget, the man was a math major! When’s the last time we had a president with an analytic mind as suggested by his academic pedigree? For how many decades have we been subjected to JDs with the odd MBA thrown in for the sake of variety?
September 28th, 2011 at 8:45 pm
KG,
That’s why we’ve got to educate voters about the truth- that Mitt is just a pale and heretical version of Huntsman!
September 28th, 2011 at 8:46 pm
#107:
What’ll be interesting is if the last few polls out of New Hampshire showing a Huntsman surge hold up. It’s conceivable that Perry could eke out a win in Iowa, narrowly edging out someone like Cain while in New Hampshire, Huntsman gets enough momentum to pull close to Romney.
A weakened Romney and Perry and a rising Cain/Huntsman would make for a very interesting race heading into the later primaries.
September 28th, 2011 at 8:47 pm
Anyway, I hope DaveG is wrong for once
and Cain becomes the anti-Mitt.
September 28th, 2011 at 8:50 pm
Guess Huntsman gets to go the next debate.
September 28th, 2011 at 8:50 pm
Marque,
Managerial skills and awesome calculus are not enough to make a good President either. The President is more than a manager. He is more than a commander. He is more than a politician, or a governor, or an administrator, or a delegator.
That’s probably why so precious few have been genuinely good at it. A Senate majority leader has experience in some of the skills a President should have. So does Fortune 500 CEO. So does a governor. So does a general. But none of them have all the same sort of experience. Personally, I think governor comes closest.
September 28th, 2011 at 8:54 pm
Thomas,
“Guess Huntsman gets to go the next debate.”
Damn skippy.
September 28th, 2011 at 8:55 pm
Matt: “That’s probably why so precious few have been genuinely good at it.”
Well put. There is no formula for greatness in that job, is there? I know that any of ours could run circles around the tool in there now.
September 28th, 2011 at 8:56 pm
MWS:
No, you can’t fire the Congress, but you can negotiate with them as you would when making major business transactions.
September 28th, 2011 at 9:01 pm
Jack Bauer,
Very true.
September 28th, 2011 at 9:03 pm
Obama’s only experience before becoming President was 4 years as a U.S. Senator. He mostly voted “present” as a state senator in llinois.
I know for a fact that if Obama can be President, Herman Cain can be President.
September 28th, 2011 at 9:03 pm
Marque,
Perhaps. But in business negotiations, the motives are primarily financial. In government, they are primarily political. That’s a big difference. I have no doubt that Cain understands business, money, and finance. I’m not so convinced he understands politics.
September 28th, 2011 at 9:06 pm
Tony,
I have no doubt Cain would be a better and more competent President than Obama, but that’s not a very high standard. Saying that a President just needs to be better than Obama is like saying an NBA all star needs to have a better jump shot than me.
(I last played competitive basketball in 7th grade).
September 28th, 2011 at 9:06 pm
#116:
Matt, if I were crafting the perfect President they would have Jon Huntsman’s resume, Mitt Romney’s business acumen, Cain’s oratorical skills, Newt’s ideas, and Chris Christie’s straight-talk. Of course, all of those folks have a couple of good things going for him, but they don’t have the whole package. Like you said, it requires such a diverse group of skills needed to be a great President and few people really have it all.
September 28th, 2011 at 9:06 pm
This conforms to the CW, which also holds, according to presidential historians, that only former presidents know the burdens faced by the current WH occupant.
But some skills and talents are more easily portable than others; some inherent and unique talents are, by definition, not common to everyone.
The idea that Cain is the right’s answer to Obama based on skill color should be banished from our minds. The Bamster had never run anything larger than his mouth. His academic and thin professional background in no way prepared him for the job. He had never worked his way up from the bottom to the top thanks to any tangible accomplishments that anyone has ever seen.
Let’s not set the bar so as to suspect that race is the common denominator. Cain has achieved more in his lifetime than many of us could hope for, all without any inherited advantage or familial contacts. That sets him apart as unique in the field of presidential aspirants all by itself.
September 28th, 2011 at 9:08 pm
#121 Ha! Tony! We’re trying to beat Obama not replicate him. Having said that, Cain would be 1000 times better than Obama.
But….would Cain be better than Romney?
September 28th, 2011 at 9:08 pm
Jonathan,
Indeed. And to be honest, we rarely know that a person has it before hand.
For instance, Clinton’s incredible political acumen was not even fully appreciated until after he left office.
September 28th, 2011 at 9:09 pm
All political motives are, at root, financial in nature.
If we didn’t have to squabble over money, property, and rights, we wouldn’t need government, and we’d just move back into the forrest and get along fine with the rest of our fellow members of the animal kingdom.
September 28th, 2011 at 9:11 pm
127:
Clinton’s political acumen is overrated by history.
September 28th, 2011 at 9:12 pm
Oops on 125: The idea that Cain is the right’s answer to Obama based on *skill color
*Skin color, of course. I must have been thinking of “green jobs.”
September 28th, 2011 at 9:14 pm
Marque,
I agree that Cain is an accomplished man of great intellect and experience. I think he knows his stuff when it comes to managing subordinates, delegating, running an office, finance, etc….. But he has almost zero political experience, and exactly zero elected experience.
Just as we should not discount his executive experience, we should not discount his lack of political experience. While some might argue that makes him “uncorrupted”, it also makes campaigning unfamiliar, selling ideas to voters untried, interactions with Congress completely alien, and working with other heads of state completely….. foreign.
September 28th, 2011 at 9:17 pm
123. <
Matt,
69,456,897 people had no problem electing the 4 year Senator to the Presidency in 2008, and the Democratic majorities in the House and Senate had no problem with it.
It is not a lack of experience that makes Obama such a bad President. It is his socialist, redistribute wealth policies that have destroyed the economy.
September 28th, 2011 at 9:17 pm
#127:
I’m beginning to appreciate Romney’s political skills more and more during this campaign. He’s pretty much been unflappable during this campaign and he’s breezed through the debates without breaking a sweat.
There was a historian that I heard talk a while ago who said that every mistake a winning general or candidate makes is diminshed while the mistakes of the loser are magnified. The example he used was 1960 with Nixon and Kennedy. Everyone knows that Nixon was, people thought, wasting his time by campaigning in Alaska in the last few days of the campaign. But, what most people don’t know is that Kennedy was being sent to states in New England that were going to vote for him no matter what. That kind of illustrates how things get viewed later on.
September 28th, 2011 at 9:17 pm
Marque,
“All political motives are, at root, financial in nature.”
Not true. The Big Three since time immemorial are Money, Sex, and Power. Many people will sacrifice one for the other two, or even two for the one. Few but politicians pursue all three.
But money is only 1/3 of that ancient triad.
September 28th, 2011 at 9:19 pm
With Christie out, the Romney malaise continues. Now they are asking for Bob McDonnell
Romney, the unloved front-runner whom nobody wants much,
http://tinyurl.com/42llkq9
September 28th, 2011 at 9:19 pm
Tony,
“It is not a lack of experience that makes Obama such a bad President. It is his socialist, redistribute wealth policies that have destroyed the economy.”
It’s both. He has managed relations with Congress poorly. Has done a crappy job selling his vision to voters. Has shown a tin ear to the concerns of the electorate, etc….. Not all of his failings are ideological, as evidence by the growing numbers of liberals (and even blacks) who are abandoning him.
September 28th, 2011 at 9:25 pm
133.
Jonathan,
I am not sure I get the “mistake.” Who made the mistake; Nixon or Kennedy?
September 28th, 2011 at 9:26 pm
Tony,
Both made the mistake. That’s the point. People only perceive Nixon’s mistake because he was the loser.
September 28th, 2011 at 9:27 pm
….although most of New England was still Republican in 1960.
September 28th, 2011 at 9:32 pm
#137:
What it is is that everyone thinks nowadays that Nixon screwed up by not campaigning in places like Texas or Illinois right before the 1960 election (both states he lost) and went to Alaska instead. And now that’s thought of as a big mistake on Nixon’s part and part of the reason he lost. Yet no one thinks that JFK made a mistake when he was stuck in New England during the last few days of the campaign instead of campaigning in California or Ohio (which he both lost). The reason is that the mistakes he made aren’t considered as important as the mistakes Nixon made because Kennedy won and Nixon lost.
It’s really just an interesting comment on how perspectives are shaped. If Nixon had beat Kennedy, everyone would be saying how stupid it was for Kennedy to be in New England and no one would care about Nixon’s trip to Alaska.
September 28th, 2011 at 9:34 pm
It’s normal for the entire Republican party to NOT back one candidate. What is abnormal is how nobody has emerged as a serious challenger to Romney. Perry was hyped, but when he was put on stage next to Romney it was clear he didn’t measure up. It would be great if we did have somebody else running who could measure up to Romney – that would be an interesting race. The other candidates inability to measure up to Romney though, are not Romney’s shortcomings.
September 28th, 2011 at 9:39 pm
Jonathan,
My understanding is that Nixon pledged to campaign in all 50 states, and managed to put Alaska off until the last weekend.
September 28th, 2011 at 9:45 pm
To show what a different era 1960 was, the Democrat won Georgia by 25 points, and lost Vermont by 17 points.
I’m guessing that was the last election that Vermont was 42 points more Republican than Georgia. Rural New England used to be the very essence of Republicanism.
September 28th, 2011 at 9:50 pm
Matt,
I have to disagree. No amount of political experience could compensate for Obama’s drive to have socialist policies implemented. Senator Bernie Sanders is an avowed socialist and has been in Congress since 1991.
He clearly has lots of political experience, but has the same anti-American perspective as Obama and would make a terrible President.
September 28th, 2011 at 9:51 pm
Matt –
Wow… I did NOT know that about New England and the South in 1960. What a difference!
September 28th, 2011 at 9:52 pm
McCain got exactly 843 more votes in Vermont in 2008 than Nixon got in 1960.
Obama got 150,076 more votes in Vermont in 2007 than Kennedy got in 1960.
That’s a lot more Democrat babies….
September 28th, 2011 at 9:53 pm
Tony,
Obama would be a terrible President with or without political skills. My point is his lack of political skills has also done him a great deal of damage, and limited his effectiveness.
September 28th, 2011 at 9:56 pm
Matt:
Yeah, Nixon had pledged to campaign in all 50 states and the reason he got to Alaska late was because he was hospitalized because of his knee.
That same historian, David Pietrusza, who wrote a great book on the 1960 campaign, calculated that if Nixon had won Texas and Illinois, in other words with no fraud from LBJ and Dick Daley, but lost Alaska, he would have lost to Kennedy in the Electoral College by 1 vote.
September 28th, 2011 at 9:59 pm
Ogre,
Other than Catholic Massachusetts and Rhode Island, New England used to be rock ribbed Republican. The joke in 1936 (when Landon carried 2 states) was “as Vermont goes, so goes Maine!”. The prairie states and New England were the two lungs of the Republican Party, while the Democrats had only one lung- the Solid South. The rest had could only win under the right circumstances.
September 28th, 2011 at 10:02 pm
Cain won’t stay this close, and neither will Perry. Romney will continue to move up, and, sans White Knights, the Establishment will gradually move off the sidelines and into Camp Romney. There is now literally no place for RDS sufferers to go if they want to back someone who has a legitimate shot.
If Huntsman keeps moving up in New Hampshire, that might change. Otherwise, Mitt can saunter into the winner’s circle unmolested.
September 28th, 2011 at 10:14 pm
Romney caught live a few minutes ago doing the nation’s business on this the greatest baseball night of the year..
@RealClearScott Scott Conroy
http://pic.twitter.com/tYQ9HPKs
1 minute ago Favorite Retweet Reply
September 28th, 2011 at 10:48 pm
Craig,
Did you notice Huntsman passed your old flame in this poll?
It won’t be long until he catches your current fling, and you’ll have to move on to someone else.
September 29th, 2011 at 2:24 am
Very funny “Colbert Report” — mocks Perry http://xfinitytv.comcast.net/tv/Colbert-Report/94816/12030258/The-Colbert-Report-9-27-2011/videos?skipTo=231&cmpid=FCST_hp_xfinitytv
September 29th, 2011 at 2:36 am
Perry/!@$#
The reason Perry is falling of the wagon is because people are beginning to get to know him.
We’ve been informed about his corruption: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/img/10-10/1003TEX_perryTechNEW.pdf
We’ve been informed about his lies: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/perrys-phony-attack-ad-on-changes-to-romneys-book/2011/09/26/gIQAR4JA0K_blog.html & http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/perrys-phony-ad-on-mitt-romney-part-2/2011/09/27/gIQAwcwp1K_blog.html
And we now know that almost none of his job creation went to Americans: http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/study-most-new-texas-jobs-went-immigrants
It was only a matter of time before people were going to find out the truth about that scum bag.
September 29th, 2011 at 2:39 am
4. “This Fox poll has a very large MOE of 5 — so they’re saying we have a three way tie. Not buying it.”
LOL @ the guy that stands by the previous CNN poll that had a MOE of 7 w/only one region polled–the South! Then again, Perry was up by 7 pts in that one…
September 29th, 2011 at 2:51 am
It’s interesting how much polls are fluctuating these days. A real testament to the power of Fox News, I suppose. They pumped up Perry and ignored his obvious major flaws, until news of them got out in spite of them. Now it’s on to a new candidate, with the eternal fallback of Romneycare, er, Mitt when things don’t work out.
Anyhow, Cain has some severe problems as a candidate (a strong supporter of TARP, doesn’t believe in the 2nd amendment, Fed Reserve banker, just for a few examples), and is unwanted in the early states altogether.
I can’t see any reason to vote for him over Obama, he’s not really all that different in practice, despite rhetoric to the contrary. The only times he’s on record, he supports things I don’t.