On Tuesday, October 11, Republican presidential candidates focused mainly on economics at New Hampshire’s Dartmouth College and I believe this forum provided a contrast of three campaigns going in different directions–Mitt Romney, Rick Perry and Herman Cain.
Rick Perry is attempting to save what’s left of his presidential campaign, but had previously challenged Republicans during a past debate over a statewide Dream Act initiative in which he said people who are against the Dream Act have no heart.
A few days later, Rick Perry had to provide an explanation of why a racial slur had been previously displayed on property that he owned.
This was a metaphorical death blow to his presidential aspirations and there was some carryover into this debate in New Hampshire.
In this debate, I saw a more desperate and defeated Rick Perry as he tried to attack new rising Republican star, Herman Cain . The Georgia businessman has been able to stay on point and his 9-9-9 plan became more of a target in this particular debate than any other debate thus far.
Cain’s poll numbers and strong conservative beliefs have pushed the former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza in a position to be a vice-presidential candidate.
Both Cain and Romney didn’t attack each other in this debate in which I found it a little strange. Romney is the more politically savior of the two, but I got the impression that their philosophies as successful businessman may help form a bond between the two.
Cain is in it to win something, and I foresee a vice-presidential nomination.
A few weeks ago, Cain was asked a question about whether he would accept it, and said it depends on the philosophy of either Perry and Romney.
Perry’s attempts to vigorously challenge Cain fell upon deaf ears and even the Texas governor’s swipe at Mitt Romney’s health care insurance program fell a little flat.
Romney has a reputation of being flip-flopper and many have questioned him due to his Mormon faith. However, there seems to be a growing acceptance of the former Massachusetts governor.
In regard to Herman Cain, he did receive more criticism from other desperate candidates such as Michele Bachman who had tried to use biblical terms to describe Cain’s 9-9-9 plan .
Cain seemed poised and wasn’t inflammatory this time round and didn’t say anything about a group of people being brainwashed or that the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ movement are a bunch of slackers and need to get a job.
Cain wants to stay away from MSNBC’s Lawrence O’ Donnell at this point. However, right now he and Mitt Romney appear to be the big winners in the short-term and this New Hampshire debate is apparently the beginning of a relationship that may give them an opportunity to win the White House in 2012.