We have concentrated almost exclusively upon what Mitt Romney’s and Rick Perry’s strategy might be in tonight’s upcoming debate. Well, what about Herman Cain? What will be his strategy? Does he go after Romney? Does he go after Perry? Or does he a bit of both?
Attacking Mitt makes some sense. Cain is the current “not-Mitt”. He also has the advantage of a number of Mitt supporters liking the cut of his jib. Another reason to go after Romney is Mitt is the frontrunner. It is a truism that you always want to attack the guy in front of you, not behind you.
So he has very good reasons to attack Mitt. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that he will train most of his fire on Rick, not Mitt.
Why? Relative vulnerability primarily. Mitt has been attacked and beat on for four years now. His support hasn’t gone up much, but it hasn’t gone done much either. It has remained quite steady. It is going to be hard to move the needle on Romney more than a few points. Rick Perry, on the other hand, shot to the top of the pack and has fallen even faster than he rose. He has very little solid support. And any support Cain can peal from Perry will likely go to him as the “not-Mitt”.
Finally, it’s personal. Cain does not like Perry, period. He just doesn’t respect the man. I can well imagine that whether he wins the nomination or not, slamming the door once and for all in the face of what he sees as a blustering fool would give an intelligent man like Herman a great deal of personal satisfaction.
Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that he will ignore Romney, but if Cain does go on the attack, I suspect that the majority of his ammunition will be sent Perry’s way.
Let the games begin!
October 11th, 2011 at 5:33 pm
I thought I heard Herman say that he won’t be attacking Perry tonight, because he felt he doesn’t need to.
October 11th, 2011 at 5:37 pm
You could be right, Jeff. Rick seems to be imploding nicely all on his own.
October 11th, 2011 at 5:39 pm
Cain would benefit more to take Perry out. Cain can’t budge Romney because they draw from two different groups, ideologically (the sane people and the “hate Romney” people respectively). If Perry drops out, Cain will take most of the support.
In the end, it won’t matter. Cain is just a flavor of the moment. He doesn’t have staying power or money, in the final sprint to push people to the polls.
October 11th, 2011 at 5:40 pm
1,
That would be surprising to me, because I fully expect Cain to try to put the nail in the coffin for Perry’s campaign tonight. His audition is going very well and tonight he should get ample time to bolster his image. This really has been a perfect convergence of factors in Romney’s favor this cycle. Combine a better, far better, Romney campaign with a weak set of opponents that really serve more as a supporting cast for Romney, making him look even better than he might otherwise, and you have a situation where if Romney keeps doing what he is doing, he will most likely be the nominee. In other words, Cain will follow the script. Maybe
October 11th, 2011 at 5:41 pm
2,
Why not give him a little shove into the self dug grave? I expect him too, though you are correct, Perry does not need any help in that regard.
October 11th, 2011 at 5:41 pm
Candidates get to ask one other candidate tonight any question they want. Cain said that he will be directing his question at Mitt Romney, and that it will be a very pointed question.
October 11th, 2011 at 5:42 pm
In a radio interview today, Cain laid out his strategy for tonight’s presidential debate: “I’m going after Mitt Romney.”
He then added, mysteriously: “I have a very penetrating question to ask him.”
http://www.businessinsider.com/herman-cains-debate-strategy-im-going-after-mitt-romney-2011-10
October 11th, 2011 at 5:43 pm
6,
There will be a RomneyCare question probably. I hope somebody asks Gov. Perry a question. Any question will do, really. The entertainment value would skyrocket.
October 11th, 2011 at 5:45 pm
Sorry, that #7 should have blockquotes around it. Must’ve screwed up the html.
October 11th, 2011 at 5:45 pm
Mark, do you not check the headline at Drudge at least once a day?
Seems odd to write this post without addressing the fact that Cain is on record intending to go after Mitt, not Perry.
You should rewrite or remove the post.
October 11th, 2011 at 5:47 pm
Cain is not getting NH so it makes sense for him to try to finish off Perry. Whether it is via just giving him enough rope or if it by going straight for the throat. Bachmann got some good push when she went head to head w/ TPaw. I think Cain could do the same.
October 11th, 2011 at 5:49 pm
why isn’t this debate tonight on tv?????????
October 11th, 2011 at 5:51 pm
Did anyone look at the Drudge headline for the past 3 hours?
Cain says he going after Romney.
October 11th, 2011 at 5:53 pm
CEO Cain, I believe, is the strongest and most formidable candidate for the general- he unites all factions of the party and expands the Party into new demographics. CEO Cain would be a face of diversity for the GOP and would be the strongest and most articulate candidate in a head to head against Obama.
October 11th, 2011 at 5:54 pm
Cain has to actually ATTACK Mitt to be the anti-mitt. He can’t be weak like Pawlenty and take cheap shots that he later takes back.
October 11th, 2011 at 5:54 pm
I have long insisted that CEO Cain is three great speeches away from the Presidency.
October 11th, 2011 at 5:54 pm
I see Metro did.
October 11th, 2011 at 5:56 pm
Where can I watch the debate? Is it going to be televised?
October 11th, 2011 at 5:57 pm
It is on TV – Bloomberg channel 353 on Direct TV
October 11th, 2011 at 5:57 pm
13,
I suppose we will find out if Cain really believes he can be president tonight. I will believe it when I see it. He would be the most competent one thus far to try it if he were to go on the offensive against Romney.
October 11th, 2011 at 5:57 pm
Oh, the Bloomberg Channel. Why does it say it starts at 7?
October 11th, 2011 at 6:01 pm
Interesting idea, asking each other questions. It’ll really just give the front couple people a lot of attention tonight.
October 11th, 2011 at 6:10 pm
Bloomberg pre-show is basically unwatchable
October 11th, 2011 at 6:11 pm
UH-OH! I think I know what Cain will ask Romney about — it’s about religion again. Romney’s religion.
October 11th, 2011 at 6:27 pm
24
That would be the biggest mistake he could make.
October 11th, 2011 at 6:29 pm
Now that Cain is a legitimate front runner people are FINALLY running the math and analyzing his 9-9-9 plan. The only two groups to study it (that I know of) both say it’s a complete disaster. Both are conservative groups. http://www.rightspeak.net/2011/10/absurdity-of-cain-tax-plan.html
October 11th, 2011 at 6:29 pm
We tend to have an almost arrogance and dismissive attitude towards people whom don’t seem to be supporting Romney as much as most here do. Calling the candidates they support the flavors of the month or fools for not supporting Romney. While few have shown a dislike towards Romney here(and we all know who they are), I believe that the majority of those who don’t support Romney are just not fully committed to a candidate yet. I, myself, am niether for or against Romney. I don’t go into these debates to root for Romney or any other candidate. I go into these debates to hear what Romney has to say, as well as, Cain, Gingrich, Perry, Santorum, Huntsman, Bachmann, and even Johnson and Paul. I want to hear what they plan to do and how they plan to help the country. It may be that Romney becomes our eventual nominee, but, for now, I want to hear the dicussion by all the candidates.
October 11th, 2011 at 6:29 pm
What about Herman?
I like a lot of what Herman says but he talks too much like a radio talk show host often, it’s not presidential.
Plus I’m not going down that road again like with Perot: again a plain speaker, no government experience and a successful businessman.
In the words of GHWB via Dana Carvey ‘not gonna do it’
October 11th, 2011 at 6:30 pm
Hmmmmmmmmm……….. It sure seems to me that Cain’s best bet would be to consolidate all the non-Romney votes, especially Perry’s, before he goes after Romney. Low-hanging fruit first?
It you’re going to wound the king, you had better kill the king. Mitt’s pretty much barracaded himself against attacks already. Nobody’s really put a glove on Mitt so far in the debates. But Cain’s nothing if not a good saleman. The comment might just be designed to get people to watch him.
October 11th, 2011 at 6:31 pm
Good luck Mr. Cain. I like you. So keep it tough and clean. I really like the idea of these candidates asking each other questions if they are legitimate and not cheap shots.
October 11th, 2011 at 6:35 pm
My question to Herman Cain would be — Under your 999 plan what would happen to those people who do not work and live on a fixed income (which is getting to be a larger group everyday)? Most of them probably do not pay any income tax right now. How happy do you think they will be if they have to start paying a 9% national sales tax (added to their local sales tax it could total to be 17%)? Do you think they will want to vote for you?
October 11th, 2011 at 6:36 pm
Just heard Cain on the Neal Boortz show about 45 minutes ago say he was going after Romney. No love loss but said he had a very potent question for Romney. Also said he wasn’t going to waste his time on Perry.
October 11th, 2011 at 6:39 pm
Have you noticed?
999 upside down is 666
Just saying, Cain better watch out for Mr’s Perry and Jeffress.
October 11th, 2011 at 6:41 pm
#33,
I wouldn’t worry about that unless Cain wins the nomination and Damien Thorne is his running mate.
October 11th, 2011 at 6:42 pm
Cain: “Governor Romney, other than chronic melanin deficiency and lack of charisma, how do you differ from President Obama?”
October 11th, 2011 at 6:48 pm
9. What’s the code you use for Block Quotes?
October 11th, 2011 at 6:57 pm
My best guess is that Cain throws a tough question at Mitt, one that he knows bothers a lot of undecideds, but that he knows Romney will have an excellent answer for. It won’t be a gotcha question.
He kills 2 birds with one stone. He looks strong because he can say he “went after Romney” and he helps Romney by giving him a platform to shine with a great answer to a question lots of people have doubts about.
But, Romney will see the question was a gift so it won’t create any animosity.
It also gives Cain an out to endorse Mitt, wholeheartedly without looking like he caved (like Pawlenty, who’s endorsement was weak because of how badly he criticized Mitt prior). Herman can say, “Well, I hit Governor Romney with a very tough question and he came back with an excellent answer. I’m now satisfied that he’s the best man for the job.”
October 11th, 2011 at 7:12 pm
Cain is going to hammer Romney. I’ll be loving every minute of it. I definitely have my money on Romney.
October 11th, 2011 at 7:12 pm
Cain will draw blood, though. Unless Perry steals the show with his buffoonishness.
October 11th, 2011 at 7:12 pm
27. Ozzy,
Yes, there are a few Rombots with the sort of attitude you’re describing, but I wouldn’t say it’s across the board and might not even be the majority. I do agree with you that it’s counter productive to criticize people for not backing Romney–in fact, it’s silly and entirely unproductive.
I think part of what you’re seeing, however, is not so much criticism simply for being against Romney, but rather push back for what some consider to be lame reasoning or really bad spin.