Your morning jolt: Herman Cain tied with Mitt Romney in Virginia
Just in time for his debut this evening as a top-tier candidate for the GOP presidential nomination. From the Washington Post:
Businessman Herman Cain has surged into the top tier of presidential candidates in Virginia, according to a new poll of the state, moving into a tie in the Republican nomination contest with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry has faded considerably.
The Quinnipiac University Poll of Virginia released Tuesday shows Romney and Cain at 21 percent apiece among Republican voters, while Perry sits at 11 percent–less than half the support he registered in the same poll a month ago.
At today’s 8 p.m. Bloomberg/Washington Post debate in New Hampshire, Cain will be required to provide a sound defense of his “999” plan, the most sensitive part of which is a 9 percent national sales tax. The WP’s Chris Cillizza and Aaron Blake reached out to Atlanta GOP consultant Paul Bennecke for this advice to Cain:
“He needs to provide substance and explain how his plan will fix the economy and create jobs,” explained Bennecke. “If he can do that, then he might remain a relevant part of the campaign.”
***
Look for this from NBC News to be a major topic of discussion tonight:
Newly obtained White House records provide fresh details on how senior Obama administration officials used Mitt Romney’s landmark health-care law in Massachusetts as a model for the new federal law, including recruiting some of Romney’s own health care advisers and experts to help craft the act now derided by Republicans as “Obamacare.”
A dozen meetings held in 2009 included one presided over by President Barack Obama.
***
Meanwhile, GOP presidential rival Jon Huntsman, who has pinned his hopes on a good showing in New Hampshire early next year, on Monday referred to the pastor of the most influential Southern Baptist church in Texas – and perhaps the nation — as a “moron.” That’s one way to get noticed:
***
What’s likely to become the most expensive state legislative race in Georgia history picked up a fourth player last night, as Atlanta native Hunter Hill, a Republican, formally jumped into the race to oust state Sen. Doug Stoner, D-Smyrna.
Hill, 34, is a former Army captain and West Point grad who served three tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. He ran against Stoner in 2008.
Two other Republicans are already in: Beth Beskin, an attorney who ran against state Sen. Horacena Tate, a Democrat, in 2010; and Josh Belinfante, a member of what was formerly called the State Ethics Commission.
Stoner’s south Cobb district had been safely Democratic, until Republicans in August redrew his lines to include most of Buckhead.
***
The Newnan Times-Herald now counts six candidates who have signed up for the special, non-partisan election to replace state Sen. Mitch Seabaugh, R-Sharpsburg, who has been named deputy state treasurer:
Duke Blackburn and Dale Pepper made their announcements Thursday, joining Matt Brass and Mike Crane in the non-partisan race for the District 28 seat. Ed Stone introduced himself Saturday at the local Republican Party breakfast as a candidate. Cynthia Bennett has also announced her intentions to seek the post.
The election will be Nov. 8. Unless one of the candidates receives more than 50 percent of the votes, a runoff will be held Dec. 6.
Qualifying ends at noon Thursday.
***
And finally: University System of Georgia Chancellor Henry “Hank” Huckaby said Monday that he’s “cautiously optimistic” that the state’s 35 public colleges and universities will receive full funding next fiscal year.
From Dorie Turner of the Associated Press:
That could mean lower tuition increases for students and an infusion of about $100 million for cash-strapped campuses that have been cut by more than $1 billion since the economy tanked a few years ago, Huckaby told The Associated Press.
“We’re cautiously optimistic that if state revenues continue to grow, although modestly, that we will have a chance at really getting that,” said Huckaby, seated in his downtown Atlanta office.
The former state lawmaker took over the 300,000-student university system in July after his predecessor, Erroll Davis, retired. Huckaby inherited an organization facing deep budget cuts amid perceptions among state lawmakers that the system needed to bear a greater share of the state’s economic woes.
Last month, Huckaby announced plans to study whether any of Georgia’s colleges should be consolidated to save money. Huckaby said Monday he expects within the next 10 days to release the criteria that will drive combining any campuses.
State lawmakers have taken aim at historically black colleges in Savannah and Albany, saying they duplicate efforts at nearby predominantly white institutions. But Huckaby said it would be premature for him to say which colleges could face consolidation.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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59 comments Add your comment
Karl Marx
October 11th, 2011
9:46 am
That will change when everyone realizes that Cain is proposing a national sales tax in his 999 rip-off, er sorry, Plan. What happened to Cain’s support of the Fair Tax? Boy talk about a big government turnaround, that didn’t take too long. A national Sales (VAT) Tax please………..
Centrist
October 11th, 2011
9:46 am
Herman Cain has muscled in to be in the top 3 potential Republican nominees. It will at least be interesting – especially when the other lower tier candidates drop out. (Except Ron Paul, but we’re used to that)
Centrist
October 11th, 2011
9:54 am
@ Karl Marx posted “What happened to Cain’s support of the Fair Tax? Boy talk about a big government turnaround, that didn’t take too long.”
Mr. Marx, you need to pay a little closer attention – he STILL supports the Fair Tax and his 9-9-9 plan is just a transition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJExWMtLOjI
Ol' Timer
October 11th, 2011
9:57 am
As the demand for greater specificity takes hold and the debates turn toward foreign policy, Ol’ Herm will fold like a Robert Hall suit.
He’s a great guy, but he’s not presidential material.
Clinton "Skink" Tyree
October 11th, 2011
10:03 am
“When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President; I’m beginning to believe it.”
~Clarence Darrow
DannyX
October 11th, 2011
10:04 am
All the Republicans talk about is raising taxes. They want to tax everything.
Georgia Republicans are screaming as loud as they can for everyone to support their proposed largest tax increase in Georgia history. This after raising everyone’s property taxes $250-$300. Don’t forget about the Georgia Power “tax.”
Now we have Herman wanting to add another 9 percent.
At the same time our Georgia Republican leaders are bankrupt. Go figure.
Ozzy Ozbourne
October 11th, 2011
10:14 am
Herman’s my man. He can use “Crazy Train” as his theme song.
He’s earned, but I also gave Rick Perry and Michelle (who are those voices in my head) Bachman the rights to it too.
There’s plenty of room on the Crazy Train.
td
October 11th, 2011
10:15 am
Ol’ Timer
October 11th, 2011
9:57 am
So Foreign policy experience is an issue for Herman but we were all told it was not important for Obama?
Good one. All Herman has to say is he is going to continue to follow the Bush/Obama policy in the middle east, confront Russia and China, support Israel and keep the blockade going on Cuba and he will be fine and win Florida.
td
October 11th, 2011
10:19 am
DannyX
October 11th, 2011
10:04 am
“Now we have Herman wanting to add another 9 percent”
9% on who? The non producers that do not pay anything now. Herman’s plan would be a about a zero sum gain for me but to get the non-producers, illegals and drug dealers paying their fair share is worth the change.
Redcoat
October 11th, 2011
10:29 am
DannyX……….What’s your plan?
DannyX
October 11th, 2011
10:29 am
“9% on who?”
The working poor, senior citizens and disabled will be hurt by a 9% tax on everything. Since Herman “Jesus scar” is representing Jesus that would be the perfect place to start. What Christian minister wouldn’t these days? What a great target the elderly, sick, and poor.
Herman is into numbers and signs from God, it’s time you Cain lovers show your support, a 999 tattoo on your forehead would be a great place to start, and would show Herman how dedicated you all are.
Hey poor people, sell all your belongings and give the money to a job creator, just like the Bible says. Then watch Herman’s Jesus scar bleed real tears.
Maxa
October 11th, 2011
10:30 am
Ol’ TImer, you need to pay attention. Herman has been the most specific and direct of ANY of the candidates. As for “foreign policy” (you say that like there is something difficult to understand about it), if Barrack Obama, Bill Clinton and G W Bush had a grasp on it, you can bet Herman Cain does too. Of course, anyone who references Robert Hall suits probably won’t recognize the “real deal”/quality if it hit them in the face.
The Snark
October 11th, 2011
10:31 am
The fact that the Republican Party is even considering a person like Herman Cain, who has no experience and precious little understanding of the reality of governance, is a sad commentary on how far it has fallen.
DannyX
October 11th, 2011
10:32 am
“G W Bush had a grasp on it,”
LMAO!!!
Destroniana
October 11th, 2011
10:41 am
Once more people begin to understand that Herman is pushing for a national sales tax on top of the income tax, 9-9-9 will backfire on him.
Maxa
October 11th, 2011
10:44 am
DannyX is obviously a bigoted racist who wants to keep black folks on the libtard plantation. DannyX voted for Obama, but only because Obama was half-white, clean, articulate and good looking, spoke with no negro dialect (unless he wanted to) and did not ever talk about details that would help anyone understand just how dang scary “hope and change” was going to be.
Better get back to Woodruff park, DannyX.
M David
October 11th, 2011
10:48 am
DannyX,
Cain does not “add” any taxes. He is REPLACING the entire tax system!! ALL other federal taxes will be eliminated!!!
Last Man Standing
October 11th, 2011
10:53 am
Destroniana:
Don’t misrepresent the 9-9-9. There will be a 9% income tax coupled with a 9% sales tax, which is a net of not quite 18% given that a certain amount of your income will be exempt.
Herman Cain is the only true conservative in this race, which is the reason so many here disparage him.
DannyX
October 11th, 2011
11:05 am
“Cain does not “add” any taxes. He is REPLACING the entire tax system!!”
On the backs of the poor, disabled and elderly. I’m sure that’s what Jesus would do. Republicans have done some editing. The weak and poor are now the ones that will have a problem getting into heaven. The rich can now just skip the gates and go right through.
Yep, Republicans did their own Thomas Jefferson-like cut-and-paste job on the Bible. Republicans created a version that make the rich holy and the poor evil.
God Bless America.
thewindwhistler
October 11th, 2011
11:06 am
Mitt Romney, Mitt has an estimated net worth of $250,000,000. I trust him. However, we need a man of the people, a man, plain spoken, self educated, tall, not particularly attractive, but a proven leader, can bring the north and south together. A man of the people, for the people. I know the man, he hails from the midwest, grew up in a cabin, oh, you think you know who it is, it is not him. This would be candidate has not announced his candidcy yet.
I will tell you who it is. Keep clicking on, and it WILL BE THERE.
Redcoat
October 11th, 2011
11:07 am
DannyX ……….No plan? So who are you?
Jon Lester
October 11th, 2011
11:17 am
If you’ve seen the music video by GooGoosha, daughter of Uzbekistan president Islam Karimov, you already know more about central Asia than Herman Cain.
As for Cain’s tax proposals, remember that his education is in mathematics, which means only one of two things can be true; his faculties are rapidly declining, or he really does feel contempt for people with less net worth than he has. It’s not hard to “do the math” and realize how bad “999″ would be for most people (and how much worse his Phase 2 Fair Tax would be, also). And he’s an associate pastor! What does that tell you?
Redcoat
October 11th, 2011
11:17 am
DannyX………..someone against everything stands for nothing,
Redcoat
October 11th, 2011
11:19 am
Jon Lester………….What’s your plan, since DannyX has nothing?
DannyX
October 11th, 2011
11:23 am
“I will tell you who it is”
This is exciting!!! My guess is Nathan Deal is going to announce a bid for the presidency!
We didn’t need a successful business leader as Governor. Heck no. We needed an ex Democrat-career politician. We needed a governor with proven business flops. A governor that knows the value of a no-bid government contract dollar.
America should be so lucky! When Deal was off in DC begging Obama for big government strings attached federal education dollars I knew he had potential. Then the day after the contentious budget fight ended I knew Deal was getting serious about a run for president. Deal showed the leadership needed in a president. Deal was begging Obama for the chance to beg for more federal pork but Obama turned him down.
Vote for a new Deal, 2012.
Redcoat
October 11th, 2011
11:25 am
Jon Lester………..What have you got against black associate pastors?
Redcoat
October 11th, 2011
11:33 am
Come on DannyX, tell us, who do we need? And what plan do they have that you support?
Independent voter
October 11th, 2011
11:49 am
Cain dont have no idea how to run a country he said 999 and said 9% tax rate for everybody so that why they cant pass the job bill
Karl Marx
October 11th, 2011
11:51 am
Centrist
You should know better. There is no such thing as a “transition” or “Temporary” tax. Heck the telephone tax for the Spanish American was is still being collected under certain circumstances. Ask the State of Georgia when a toll becomes a tax. When the extended the GA 400 toll that’s when. Once a national sales tax is implemented it will never go away just like income tax and Fair Tax will never happen. Politicians will never give up that much power.
Centrist
October 11th, 2011
11:55 am
@ Karl Marx posted “Fair Tax will never happen. Politicians will never give up that much power.”
I’m afraid I have to agree with this assessment, but it won’t stop me and others from trying.
double
October 11th, 2011
11:57 am
Redcoat your record is hung.Keeps repeating(like brainwashed)please give us your plan,the extreme right you support.
gadawggadawggadawg
October 11th, 2011
11:57 am
A 2012 candidate used the word “moron”. My work is done here.
You know, I have to admit that I underestimated that power of the internet. It thought that there was a standard of common sense that would overwhelm any social network. I was wrong.
I was holding back. “Moron” has unleashed me. I will kick the campaign in the sides and see what comes out the end. Just for fun.
Cain, eh?
999.
really.
To the zeitgeist!
Redcoat
October 11th, 2011
12:04 pm
double…………What is DannyX’s plan? Criticism only? How about you? Probably the same. No, not brainwashed, dannyX, is trying to brain wash….are you?
DannyX
October 11th, 2011
12:05 pm
“Come on DannyX, tell us, who do we need?”
Well as a Republican I would like to see Tom Graves run for president. Nobody in either party has shown the business genius that Congressman Tom has shown. He got a bank to lend him millions of dollars for a worthless roach motel. He netted a bundle on the deal he could never pay back. Genius.
We need leaders with new ideas and Tom’s was brilliant. Graves is a true Georgia business hero like Nathan Deal and Herman Cain. A true success story from someone who earned his money, Tom Graves.
Tom Graves (R) for President! A successful businessman.
Redcoat
October 11th, 2011
12:09 pm
DannyX………..can’t do it can you….hahaha
DannyX
October 11th, 2011
12:12 pm
“DannyX………..can’t do it can you….hahaha”
You are doing a great job Redcoat, you have everyone real engaged. Keep up the good work.
td
October 11th, 2011
12:18 pm
DannyX
October 11th, 2011
12:05 pm
I once thought you were a true committed liberal that really believed in your philosophy but you have now changed my mind. You are just a smartA$$ that has no core values. You my friend are worse than the liberals because you just do not care about anyone or anything. Thank you for shinning the light on the real you.
Centrist
October 11th, 2011
12:21 pm
Redcoat – there are certain posters here who lie, call names, bait, and use vulgarity because they don’t have facts or debating skills. Most are on the left, but a few on the right. I simply choose to ignore them instead of encourage more of the same.
At least Galloway just uses selective attacks on the right and hyperbole to make his liberal points.
Redcoat
October 11th, 2011
12:22 pm
DannyX…..And you just can’t respond with who you support….maybe if you would, you could improve to some real level of engagement, but I’m guessing you can’t defend anything if you have nothing. Only smart @zz responses every time about someone you don’t support. Come out and respond positively about who and what you support. Get to a fresh level.
double
October 11th, 2011
12:25 pm
I think Dan plans to keep the poor and needy represented.Knows this is better done under the Democrats.Will support the candidate thinks will be for the working class.Not corporations.Will say what he thinks,not what he thinks others like to hear.Represent all races.Not just wealthy whites.PS.washing your brain would be like washing a fart.If that is possible.
Redcoat
October 11th, 2011
12:29 pm
Centrist……..My attempt with DannyX was to expose the left as having no ideas.
td………You are dead on
DannyX
October 11th, 2011
12:30 pm
Wow td and Centrist that was kind of harsh. td I love to read your tired old talking points 20 times a day. And Centrist, I think you speak for all emo-Republicans with your whiny liberal media envy. You two are the stars of this blog.
Together we all mesh into an incoherent mess, we need each other.
Redcoat
October 11th, 2011
12:36 pm
double………….a true pure non answer that covers everything, but nothing at all….. yes, Dems need people to control, not make their own educated decisions.How about someone that represents us all? Who determines who is saying what others want to hear, I want to know what you stand for. I can’t help you on what you have been brainwashed on, but I guess I’ll have to take your word about what it is like.
Centrist
October 11th, 2011
12:37 pm
I see this as an accurate editorial: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/oct/7/lies-failure-and-wasted-money/
Excerpt/ summary: “The Obama administration has approached its governing responsibilities as follows: Isolate a problem, proclaim an urgent need to address it, propose legislation and then try to ram it through Congress before people have a chance to read it or appreciate the exact effect it will have on the nation.”
Examples: Obamacare, government investing in Solyndra/ other politically well-connected green companies, and current jobs program with trial lawyer and chilling hiring provision allowing people to sue a prospective employer if they believe they were turned down for a position because they were unemployed at the time they applied for it.
Galloway will certainly stay away from this.
double
October 11th, 2011
12:45 pm
Yeah they shine like Bush seniors thousand points of light.You need give Centrist credence.10/10/11 @5:46″SS income not taxed until reach certain level.This exemption will CERTATNLY remain,or be adjusted up(maybe not taxed at all)”Well would this be a lie,a bait?And you Centrist have called others names.
double
October 11th, 2011
12:59 pm
certainly———-oops
mum
October 11th, 2011
1:07 pm
Centrist, it seems that the political class got what it wanted because Solyandra has become a talking point that keeps the electorate distracted from the fact the the jobs republicans promised to produce haven’t materialized. Granted, Solyndra turned out to be a boondoggle, but the other 99% of grants seem to have worked. Shouldn’t people be just as enraged about the billions in taxpayer money the military industrial complex takes in every year on things that they military don’t want and are obosolete but they keep on producing? Solyndra was a failure for many reasons but this takes our eyes off the fact that China is undercutting us at every turn because their goal is to dominate at all levels.
Centrist
October 11th, 2011
1:16 pm
@ mum – The government investments in preferred firms and connected people goes a LOT further than Solyndra. I don’t think this is a distraction, but the stonewalling is not going to work, either.
Romney has steadfastly said that he will confront China on his first day in office. It is the Obama administration which refuses to do so.
Obama 2012
October 11th, 2011
1:23 pm
So basically this is setting up a Cain/Romney ticket or a Romney/Cain ticket. I am not sure which would give the GOP the better chance in the general election but I would love to see Obama versus Cain in the general election and see how the American public deals with this. Will a third party independent come out of the woodwork? I wish Cain had won the GA Senate race then he would have had elected office experience, that is my biggest worry. Talk sounds great until you are actually in the hot seat and by not having any elected office experience, I believe if Cain wins this country will be in big trouble.
KID
October 11th, 2011
1:44 pm
Obama all the way in 2012!!