Jim Newell wonders about Cain:
But there is at least one indicator that shows Cain might be able to hold on to it: His favorability rating in this PPP poll was 66%, the highest of all candidates. When Trump, Bachmann and Perry were at their peak, it was always by maximizing support in a relatively narrow band of the electorate.
So maybe he’ll hold on, but we still don’t “get” this Cain thing. What good reason is there for such a rapid shift in support other than a Tea Party protest vote against Rick Perry at a straw poll and a couple of funny lines at the debates? It’s not like he’s changed in the last month. He’s still the guy with no political experience whatsoever, who admittedly and proudly doesn’t care about foreign policy and stresses a wacko economic plan that repeats the arbitrary number “9” three times while taxing the shit out of poor people to bring in lower revenue hauls.
I think Republicans like Cain because they feel have some idea of what he is talking about. Anytime anyone says something slightly specific that wingers like, Cain will say “that’s in my 999 plan”. When things get boring during the debates, he just starts yelling about his 999 plan. And it’s a simple, retro, un-focus-grouped name.
Cain doesn’t get drawn into discussions of HPV or QEII or Uz-beki-beki-stan-stan-stan or other stuff his audience doesn’t understand. He doesn’t fall asleep on stage like Gingrich and Perry. He’s the only guy avoiding both of these traps, and that’s why he’s winning in a lot of polls.