The sexual harassment non-scandal is not what brought down Herman Cain’s campaign. Cain’s campaign died in a quiet, unassuming way. It was not even friendly fire that brought Cain down.
What was it that has brought about the end of the Cain campaign?
It was the Cain-Gingrich debate.
That was certainly not the intention. By all accounts, Cain and Gingrich are friends. They certainly were friendly at the debate.
Cain’s demise was self-inflicted.
In what should have been a debate between equals, Cain constantly deferred to Gingrich. The game ending moment came for Cain on a simple point. Steve King asked a question about defined benefits. Cain stammered, started to say, “A defined…” then he said the words that would kill his campaign. “You go first Newt.”
Either Cain did not know what it was or could not explain it in front of a national audience.
His demur left the impression that Gingrich was far smarter than Cain and could answer the questions Cain could not.
This event, a friendly event as both candidates noted, lacked a gotcha question, revealed Cain’s fundamental weakness. Cain is very engaging and he is an incredible orator. He is a terrible debater.
Unfortunately in this modern era, that is a skill that every candidate must have. Gingrich wanted a friendly debate and he got one. But he also showed something he has demonstrated in every debate. Gingrich is an incredible debater. This is his greatest talent. Gingrich has been described as the smartest man on the stage at the debates he has participated in and that has been obvious.
Herman Cain’s limitations have become obvious in a debate. He is not comfortable in that format. Unfortunately for Cain, if he were to be the nominee, he would be expected to do at least three debates with Obama. With history as a guide, not only would Cain not have the friendly environment he had last night, the stage would be stacked with pro-Obama media types.
Anytime a sitting President runs for reelection, the vote is a referendum on the President. This should be an easy vote. If Obama did not have the mainstream media in his corner, he could expect to retire in fourteen months.
This election will be closer than any of us want to admit. In some ways, this could be a replay of 1980. Americans knew they did not like Jimmy Carter but were not sure about Ronald Reagan.
After three debates and the famous line, “Are you better now than you were four years ago,” Reagan pulled ahead and we had a great eight years.
If Herman Cain has a series of bad debates, we could see four more years of Barack Obama. Obama is a far better debater than Cain is. Gingrich will destroy Obama in a debate.
Unfortunately for Herman Cain, in a debate against Barack Obama, if he does not get the question, he cannot simply turn around and say, “you first Barry.”
Cain is a great guy with a bad plan. Unfortunately he is a bad debater and Gingrich is an all-pro. As much as I like Cain, he is not quite ready for the starting line up just yet.
Our primary goal has got to be the defeat of Barack Obama. That means we need our first string out there on their A-game. Cain showed us in the debate last night that he is not the first string.
Gingrich is.
Tags: 2012, barack, cain, campaign, debate, gingrich, herman, newt, obama
Permalink Reply by Caleb White on 
Permalink Reply by Sunny on What does IMHO mean? Cain and Gingrich would be a great ticket - but I still love Michelle.
Unfortunately, her pleading, whiny-type voice does not a campaigner make.
Permalink Reply by Larry Self on 
Permalink Reply by Jeff Waller on Sunny, Jim is a texter...it's "in my humble opinion"
Texters think everybody knows their language.
I think I'll start posting COBOL or Visual Basic...maybe even Fluaslavian Javalez.
Permalink Reply by Juls on May be that I'm way off base here but I got the distinct impression very early on that we were suppose to see the makings of a presidential ticket. Cain's deferral to Gingrich only added to that impression - the deferral of a VP to his President perhaps?
Permalink Reply by Darlene Black on Permalink Reply by Joyce M Krisanda on Permalink Reply by Carol G on Permalink Reply by Joyce M Krisanda on I'll second that.... what a team that would make!!
Permalink Reply by Fitzhugh Havens on © 2013 Created by Judson Phillips.
