Cain, a Contender

Despite initially lagging behind in the race for the GOP presidential nomination, Hermann Cain is beginning to give frontrunner Mitt Romney a run for his money. After winning the Florida straw poll in late September, Cain has developed leads in key states, including Nebraska and West Virginia. He is also showing strong numbers for North Carolina, a state that President Obama will hope once again to win in the general election. In each of those states, it is becoming clear that Governor Rick Perry is quickly fading away; it is becoming equally clear, however, that Mitt Romney will be confronting a new challenge.

Ironically, many journalists have noted what seems like Cain’s lack of a campaign. He has, for instance, only four staff members working in Iowa – arguably the most crucial state for the primary – and has raised a relatively small amount of money. As Susan Saulny of the New York Times reports in her article, “A Candidate Writing His Own Campaign Rules,” Hermann Cain seems to be focusing more on completing a book tour than on running for president. The candidate disagrees with that assessment, though, claiming “the two complement one another.” He hopes that the book will allow him to be more widely recognized by voters. Cain also asserted that the minimal staff he has in Iowa does not mean that he is neglecting the state, as he has made almost thirty trips there in recent months.

Cain’s rise in the polls could be attributed to his ability to articulate a cohesive policy plan for the tax system – the 9-9-9 plan. The flat tax on personal income, businesses, and sales has backing from some economists who believe that, in theory, it could promote economic growth. The idea that the government will not be choosing who does and does not receive higher taxes may be popular with some, but critics argue that it will never pass congress. Since currently only states are allowed to charge sales tax, the new plan would be entering new territory, something that many are uncomfortable with. Ultimately, the viability of the plan remains in question, mostly by those who doubt that it can be applied to the real world. That is, if nothing were exempted from the sales tax, then it is quite possible that consumption would be lowered.

Although it is generally beneficial at this point in the primary race for Cain to have a relatively well-articulated economic plan, the candidate must be careful to avoid alienating too many voters should he be fortunate enough to run in the general election. Claiming that African Americans are being “brainwashed” into voting for the Democrats, for instance, could prove to be a major liability later in the presidential race. Similarly, CNN reported the following quotation, which could likely hurt the candidate later on: “Don’t blame Wall Street. Don’t blame the big banks. If you don’t have and you’re not rich, blame yourself.” Such divisive quotations tend to make one question a candidate’s electability.