Back in January, Herman Cain announced an exploratory committee for president. A release from Herman Cain’s press office informs me today:
Longtime corporate executive and conservative leader Herman Cain will announce his decision regarding a potential presidential campaign on Saturday, May 21, 2011 in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia.
The release goes on to state:
Cain is widely believed to have been the winner of the first 2012 Republican candidate debate Thursday evening in Greenville, SC, and has steadily gained grassroots and financial support across the U.S.
Now, call me crazy, but if your exploratory committee is touting a debate win and growth in grassroots and financial support, somehow I get the idea that a formal campaign announcement is in the works.
Herman Cain has a very strong message for all of America that goes to the heart of what's left of our shared but tattered Republican ideals.
Let's start talking about the obvious... It's "game on" for the hearts and minds of Blacks and Hispanics next year. That "Plantation Democrat" thing stings because it's true. Herman Cain and all the others have a remedial message for them.
Herman Cain could be an appealing vice-presidential candidate for a Washington insider, perhaps Paul Ryan. Someone who could legitimately and forcefully counterbalance the Washington insiderism instincts of too many of the Republican Party's small "c" conservative leadership over the past decades.
The "times they are a changing".
We big 'C' Conservative/Responsible/Republican "get out the voter" types actually have a glut of good presidential candidates to choose from, and an amazingly solid cast of emerging legislative leaders out there.
Among so many other traits, the ideal Republican Presidential candidate must be honorable, competent, smart, experienced, wise and decisive.
Herman Cain, and it sure looks like most of the field thus far, seem to share those basic qualities.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseCain is Able - - At the moment, the most-electable, for a variety of reasons, might be a Herman Cain/Rubio ticket. They are all both new faces on the national stage, with fundamental fiscal-conservative philosophies, and boldness in front of the media and public audiences.
Neither brings the experience some would argue is required to run for President or VP. But then again neither did Obama in 2008. And JFK was inexperienced as well in 1960.
Cain is running, and he is exhibiting that he is intelligent, articulate, and extremely likable. He has a proven conservative record of success in business and in finance. He might be the best choice. Cain lacks political experience, but who really cares. His private sector accomplishments actually are more applicable than Trump's, and if he could gain national exposure, he would "catch-on" quickly. He jokingly calls himself the “dark horse” candidate. The 45 minute interview he gave recently on C-SPAN was truly impressive, charming, open, and more presidential than any of the other possibilities could ever give. "Cain is able", and perhaps he is the most electable. Electability trumps experience in this critical selection of a 2012 candidate.
In addition, there is a good albeit difficult-to-implement way to correct and fill any inexperience deficit that might be perceived regarding Herman Cain.
This would be for team like Cain/Rubio to name a supporting cast (future Cabinet and Advisory Team) after being selected as Republican Party nominees at the Republican Convention, if not earlier during the primary process itself. They could name perhaps one or two per week, repeatedly capturing repeated media attention. Assembling the best of a great field of available Republican talent by their sides (figuratively and literally), they could put on a GREAT road show and a constant media blitz; with much credibility and a great story. The presidential and VP candidates themselves, when questioned on any specific subject about which they are thought to be inexperienced, could repeatedly state “we would bring in Secretary X or Special Advisors Y and Z. That’s why they are on our team”
Think of the supporting cast that is possible: Guilliani for Attorney General, Romney as Commerce Secretary, maybe Col. Alan West at the Pentagon, John Bolton as Secretary of State, Steve Forbes perhaps as Secretary of the Treasury, Michelle Rhee as Secretary of Education, maybe Peter King for Homeland Security, Jack Welch in a new post as Secretary of Economic Growth, T Boone Pickens as Energy Czar. And how about Brit Hume as White House Press Secretary, etc, etc, etc. Perhaps Daniels, Gingrich, and/or Pawlenty could also be added to the team in some capacity.
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