Weekly GOP Candidates Review 28 August 2011

Rick Perry   

Governor Rick Perry is certainly building momentum and has jumped into a big lead over his nearest GOP rivals. Perry has been covering the three key early states of Iowa, South Carolina and New Hampshire shaking lots of hands and getting his teams in place. He also confirmed his participation this week in the Reagan Centennial GOP Debate sponsored by NBC & Politco on 7 September and the CNN Sponsored debate 12 September debate. He continued attacking his rivals and President Obama and managed to avoid making any controversial comments this week. I’m not convinced by the poll results and believe the set of polls taken after the debates in September will represent a much truer reflection of Governor Perry’s real standing.

Mitt Romney

Governor Romney had a tough week in the Polls with most revealing he has now fallen behind new front runner Rick Perry substantially. Governor Romney in my view had another good week because he stuck to his consistent message about jobs, called for the extradition of the Pan-Am Lockerbie Bomber and most crucially of all, announced that he was going to unveil his jobs plan in Nevada on 6 September. Romney also showed a bit of grit and excellent composure when holding a town hall as a democratic supporter tried to constantly interrupt him when trying to respond to her question. I still believe Romney represents the best chance out of the current GOP field in beating President Obama.

Michele Bachmann

Ignore the media coverage and hype since Perry entered the race, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is still showing strong discipline and momentum in her campaign. Bachmann also drew support from South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley twice joining her on her swing into South Carolina this week. Bachmann also visited Florida this week. Bachmann is energising the party and I attribute the dip in her poll results down to two factors, the Perry lift on entering the race and the continued uncertainty about Sarah Palin entering the race. Bachmann will improve in the polls again inside a month and I am confident she’ll put in another strong showing in the September debates to boost her.

Ron Paul

Now things are becoming interesting with Congressman Ron Paul over the last two weeks, it appears increasingly likely that he’ll declare as an Independent candidate and run on his own. There is no doubt that his message and points have a very solid and strong support base however, if Paul does elect to choose this route, he’ll only be guaranteeing President Obama’s return for a second term in the White House. Paul’s campaign have also been very effective sending out signals about the media ignoring him and his messages, naturally, he’s gained considerable media attention since which would seem to confirm their viewpoint. Congressman Paul is also improving in the polls and expect his campaign to solidify his position in the polls.

Herman Cain

Herman Cain is still running a determined campaign and enjoyed a very productive week in Israel meeting Jewish leaders and discussing regional issues. Cain also enjoyed increased media coverage slamming Janeane Garofalo following comments she made about Cain being paid to run in the GOP race to prove they aren’t racist, needless to say, the Herminator gave the bigoted comments short shrift.  Cain finished the week on a high winning a straw poll in Georgia ahead of Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich.

Newt Gingrich

The former Speaker continues to operate an under rated campaign. Speaker Gingrich continues to present ideas and solutions regarding the job crisis facing America, Government reform using the Six-Sigma Model and continues to voice his objections over the President’s socialist policies and the Super committee concept. The week ended on a decent note with Gingrich coming third in a straw poll in Georgia. Gingrich also jumped to the Tea Party’s defence over the increasing attacks from the liberal media and some democratic politicians insinuating that they are racist and nutters. Gingrich said it was a last ditch attempt to hide failed liberal policies.

Jon Huntsman

The week started strangely, I must admit for former Governor Huntsman insofar as he undertook a media whirlwind attacking his GOP candidates and President Obama in equal measures. It appeared that Huntsman was lining himself up possibly to go out as a Independent candidate with him continuing to make an real impact in the polls. However, a huge significant moment occurred during the week, Jeb Bush said Tuesday that he likes GOP presidential candidate Jon Huntsman “a lot.” Many see Jeb Bush as a very credible and strong politician and while stopping short of a resounding endorsement, to have received such an indicative level of support can only boost Huntsman. Huntsman appears to have realised that he needs to deliver big in next months debates and set himself apart from the rest of the GOP to stand any realistic chance of finally grabbing some traction. He has all the credentials to be President I just wonder if he really wants it bad enough this time round.

Thaddeus McCotter

Congressman McCotter has continued to spend time building his face and name recognition and travelling to Iowa and New Hampshire. It appears he is styling his campaign on the Governor Huckabee’s 2008 effort.

Note: 

The next GOP weekly update will be provided on Sunday, September 11, 2011 due to the Congressional recess and GOP debates.

Latest Gallup Poll Results Source:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/149180/Perry-Zooms-Front-Pack-2012-GOP-Nomination.aspx

Bachmann the only winner out of the Palin Tour

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is certainly looking like and sounding like, a lady on the verge of entering the 2012 GOP Presidential nomination race officially.

I’m a fan of Bachmann, largely due to her constitutionalist and fiscally conservative background. She is often attacked like most other conservative women in the mainstream media however, she stands her ground, makes no apologies for standing for what she believes in and is assertive in bringing people’s attention to important issues and educating them on the facts.

I wrote back in March, how I believed this lady would make an impact in the field if she entered and how potentially could win. Nothing I have seen since, has resulted in me changing my mind.

She’s been putting the time in touring the early primary states and her fund raising ability and organisation set-up is far superior to a lot of her fellow candidates. In a weekend over shadowed by Sarah Palin’s “One Nation” Tour, Congresswoman Bachmann was the only other GOP high profile person who managed to gain media attention.

This honest and direct lady when asked why she would consider running for president replied,”The country needs to have a new president.” The country needs someone who is a strong bold constitutional conservative, who is committed to American made jobs and who will get rid of Obamacare.

What I believe are two unique advantages Bachmann has over her counterparts at the moment is, her willingness to attack the Obama administration without being personal. She focuses on the facts and gets her message across very effectively. Secondly, she has been consistent in her message about America’s economic performance and need for a new direction. This second message is not new for Bachmann but what makes it more relevant to the campaign is, with increasingly poor performing economic figures by the month, her message will become stronger among conservatives and independent voters.

The media have been focussing all weekend on former Governor Sarah Palin. I personally don’t think Governor Palin will run this time, I’ve always maintained 2016 will be her time, especially if the GOP fail to win the White House in 2012. The real winner from all the Palin media attention is Congresswoman Bachmann. She has received so much attention largely due to a potential race between two female candidates with Tea-Party support and conservative values.

A big factor which many commentators over look or pay little attention to is, the increasing involvement of women in political commentary and positions of influence in America. American women account for over half of the electoral vote in America. Bachmann already focuses on entitlements, healthcare and more importantly for women education. She has long championed Minnesota’s state education system and advocates states rights to develop their own curriculum systems under the guidance of the U.S Department of Education. Once her record and policies on these key areas start gaining national recognition, she will start gaining and winning support from female voters.

Personally, I think it was a shame Secretary Clinton didn’t win the Democratic nomination in 2008. As historic a victory President Obama’s was in 2008, I also feel it would be equally historic to see a woman serve in the Oval office. I believe with her gutsy, factual and consistent approach combined with her ability to communicate her messages, could easily result in Congresswoman Bachmann winning the GOP nomination. I certainly don’t underestimate the size of the challenge ahead but I think, she could be the type of President America needs to get back on track.

Congresswoman Bachmann represents a lot of female values in America and more importantly, she isn’t afraid at confronting the fears either. Above all, Bachmann presents solutions to those fears so don’t discount her challenge. Palin has indirectly assisted Bachmann by raising her profile nationally and getting some excellent media coverage over the Memorial Day weekend when the other candidates got little or none.

The real winner from Governor Palin’s “One Nation tour” is, Congresswoman Bachmann. I look forward to her making her candidacy official in Waterloo, Iowa later this month.

Bachmann is a grass roots politician who will shake every hand, smile at every person and kiss every baby’s head and look like a personable lady and caring mother doing it all.

Bachmann could not only score a victory for GOP by sweeping into the White House, she could also make significant history by becoming the first female president in U.S. history.

Former Ambassador Jon Huntsman – 12th May 2011.

Former Ambassador Jon Huntsman could be the stealth candidate in the GOP Party Nomination race. Former Ambassador to China there is no doubt President Obama appointed him to the position in the hope of preventing him running as a candidate in 2012. Huntsman has plenty of administrative experience serving in a number of roles since the Reagan administration and also possesses strong business and executive experience, having being former governor of Utah. He was extremely successful as governor transforming Utah into one of the best recognisable places in the USA to do business.

Huntsman has conservative fiscal credentials and a mixture of positions on social issues. He has been described as a conservative technocrat optimist with moderate positions who was willing to work largely with President Barack Obama. He has vast experience of foreign policy and can speak fluent Chinese Mandarin and is a strong supporter of Israel which is contrary to the Obama Administrations perceived position. A dedicated Mormon, and viewed as a centrist which bodes well for him providing, he can maintain this position and could potentially become a unity candidate.

As governor, Huntsman prioritised economic development, health-care reform, education, and energy security and oversaw large tax cuts.  The two biggest challenges Huntsman faces is name recognition and his support for civil unions which may not rest well with some in the conservative movement. He no longer supports the idea of cap-and-trade legislation citing the considerable shift in America’s economic circumstances as the primary reason for his shift in position.

A lot of the Liberal media have called him disloyal for resigning his position as Ambassador to run against President Obama. It is important to ignore such accusations as mentioned earlier, his appointment was political in the first place and the Obama re-election team would view him as a candidate with a real chance of beating the present incumbent. David Axelrod will no doubt try and undermine Huntsman by focussing on his willingness to work and co-operate with President Obama.

He tackled this issue head on last week during a speech at the University of South Carolina saying, “patriotism should trump partisanship” and said “while we might not all be of one party, we are all part of one nation — a nation that needs your generational gift, energy and confidence,” It was an extremely tactful and statesman like speech delivered with outstanding eloquence.

He already has filed the necessary paperwork with the Federal Election Committee and many expect his announcement to come in June or July. He is due to travel to New Hampshire later this month for another commencement speech at Southern New Hampshire University.

Conservatives are crying out for someone who shares most of their beliefs and above all else, someone who can beat President Obama in 2012. Former Ambassador Jon Huntsman could be the very person.

My Verdict: A very real possibility. Romney messed up not apologising for Romney care yesterday and I believe he’s missed the opportunity to leave the issue behind him in the campaign. Huntsman is a statesmanlike, business like, possesses successful executive experience as Governor and is exceptional on foreign affairs. He definitely could win not just the GOP nomination but pose President Obama’s most serious threat to re-election if a head to head occurs in 2012.

Governor Mike Huckabee – 1st May 2011.

Governor Michael “Mike” Huckabee is a well known Republican Politician, Author and Talk show host.  He is the former Governor of Arkansas and Republican candidate in the 2008 United States Republican presidential primaries. He finished second in the delegate count and third in the overall popular vote to Senator John McCain.

He appeals to ordinary voters and has a widespread support base within the Republican Party especially among the evangelical Christians. His experience as Governor gives him plenty of executive experience.

In his 2008 presidential run, he came second in the Iowa caucuses with 34% of the electorate and 17 delegates. He came second in New Hampshire & South Carolina and third in Michigan and fourth in Florida and won a further seven states before withdrawing from the race prior to Texas after it was clear Senator John McCain was going to succeed in gaining the required number of delegate votes for the Republican nomination.

He is a vocal critic of President Obama in particular his handling of economic issues. Governor Huckabee is pro-business and a strong supporter of small business, he advocates the implementation of The Fair Tax, he believes education is a state issue not a federal issue and is a strong advocate in America pursuing energy independence and strong on immigration. Governor Huckabee’s record on clemency and executions will provide potential points of attack for President Obama.

Verdict: There is no doubting his popularity with a good section of the electorate and he is an extremely principled and sincere man. Raising finance will be a major issue for Huckabee against some of the other big Republican nominees and even if successful against the GOP field, in reality he could never possibly compete with President Obama in the financial stakes. He has made some controversial comments at times most recently involving Nathalie Portman which affect his popularity. He is currently placing a consistent second or third in most national polls but is 4% points behind President Obama in a head to head race. He lacks a certain spark which Independent voters seek similar to Governor Daniels. I can’t see Governor Huckabee prevailing and being strong enough to beat President Obama in a national general election. He will be the nearly man once again.

Governor Mitch Daniels – 30th April 2011.

Mitchell “Mitch” Daniels is the current Governor of the U.S. State of Indiana and potential Republican Candidate for the 2012 Presidential nomination. Under President George W. Bush, he served as Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget a role which earned him the nickname of “The Blade” for his commercial acumen and ability to cut budgets. As Governor of Indiana, he turned around a budget deficit $600 million into a $300 million surplus in one year. Governor Daniels is a no nonsense politician and is viewed positively by most conservatives. He is credited with turning around the fortunes of the state of Indiana by bringing state spending under control and focussing on job creation and growth. Indiana was ranked 8^th nationally in the U.S. for personal income growth in 2010. He also signed the first bill for refusing to accept Medicaid funds from the Federal government for the funding of Planned Parenthood becoming the first U.S. state to do so. He is a big advocate of privatisation with him privatising the Indiana Toll Road system in 2005 and has also tackled the teacher unions to reform the state public school system.

Governor Daniels is rumoured to be considering a run for the Republican Party 2012 Presidential nomination and has openly admitted he has discussed the matter with former President George W. Bush although naturally he didn’t reveal the outcome of the conversation. Governor Daniels is a factual, concise and purposeful politician with a proven track record of reforming government, reducing taxes and earning the respect of voters. He views America’s economic problems as desperately worrying and said if he were leader of the nation he would seek to build an economy of hope and opportunity. He is against personal or dirty trick campaigns which again could be another feather to his cap under the current political climate. His only drawback is his charisma, people like voting for an energetic, charismatic and influential leader so this would be his one perceived drawback although, he could certainly challenge President Obama on substance.

Verdict: He could be the wildcard entrant I’ve referred to up to now. He would have to enter the race certainly in time to make a mark in August’s Iowa straw poll. If he declared, he could be the unifying figure that would satisfy the Republican Party, especially now Hayley Barbour has announced his intention not to run.

Congressman Ron Paul – 26th April 2011

Rep. Ron Paul a U.S Republican Party Congressman for the 14^th Congressional district of Texas and current serves on the House Foreign Affairs committee, Joint Economic Committee and the Committee on Financial Services and is Chairman of a subcommittee Domestic Monetary Policy and is a fierce outspoken critic of current American foreign policy and monetary policy Under the Obama Administration. He ran for President in 1998 as the Libertarian Party’s candidate and also ran for the GOP nomination in 2008. Today, Paul announced his intention to form an exploratory committee in Des Moines, Iowa, which conducts the opening contest in the nomination race.

He has considerable support from the Tea Party caucus and joins a field of candidates which is hardly firing on all cylinders with most appearing to want to wait until the End of May or June to declare their true intentions. There is no doubt Hayley Barbour’s confirmation over the weekend that e will not be running is disappointing. Rep. Paul is renowned for his insistence that he will “never vote for legislation unless the proposed measure is expressly authorized by the Constitution.

The problem the Republican Party has is there is really no candidate who can unite their own party and appeal to voters and rise to the challenge of beating President Obama.

Rep. Paul is a controversial figure whose anti-government views chime well with many Tea Party activists. But he also wants to slash the defence budget and is a well-known anti-war campaigner calling for US withdrawal from all foreign wars as recently as Sunday. Rep. Paul is extremely popular among the younger generation of voters and definitely developed a hardcore of support during his bid in 2008 and the current political climate will only make him a greater appeal this time round.

Rep. Paul has been dubbed the “intellectual grandfather” of the Tea Party Movement. He performed extremely well in the GOP straw polls in his 2008 and demonstrated excellent fund raising capability. He achieved a steady third place in the 2008 GOP nomination race.

He is considered a conservative, constitutionalist Libertarian. He is Pro-gun, anti- foreign intervention and strong supporter of improving the U.S. border security with Mexico. He regularly votes against almost all proposals for new government spending, initiatives, or taxes. Rep. Paul calls himself strongly pro-life an unshakable foe of abortion.

My Verdict: He is certainly a different character and has some very distinct views compared to many of the other possible candidates in the 2012 particularly in his economic perspective. He is an exceptionally intelligent individual and consistent in his approach on all matters of policy. If he performs well in the early primaries which he is very capable of doing he may build a momentum. His message is clear and simple and especially in the current climate with President Obama seeking to increase taxes and the amount of legislation which he has passed since coming into office may set Rep. Paul up as the polar opposite to President Obama.

He has a very strong base in the Tea Party and is popular with College students across America. I believe he stands a good chance of winning the GOP candidacy which may surprise many people. How about an interesting thought to consider? How about a Father & son ticket for the GOP Party ticket for V.P and President? That would really be historic and both are outstanding and consistent men in their political approach.

Haley Barbour – 20th April 2011.

Haley Barbour is an American Republican Politician and is the current Governor of Mississippi. He is a popular figure in the Republican Party and served as its Chairman between 1993 and 1997. He has many credentials which could allow him a dark horse status in the GOP 2012 race. Prior to his political career, he had a very successful career as a lobbyist in Washington D.C. earning a fortune and certainly has the political & business connections and influences to make a few of the better known candidates sweat for positions in the primaries.

He was considered very much a heroic figure post Hurricane Katrina for dealing with the problems in Mississippi which is also the poorest of all the States in America.

The credentials which will favour him should he enter the race is his proven and successful track record on fiscal responsibility and governance.  This will be particularly interesting as he reduced the spending on Medicaid in his state but extended spending under the Medicare program resulting in the state going from a $709 million budget deficit in 2004/2005 to a balanced budget in fiscal year 2006. He is a pro-life candidate, an excellent strategist with large fund raising capability and opposed to expansion of the federal government.

He may face attacks on his commitment to social programs from the Democratic Party in any potential race and naturally, his lobbyist past may raise one or two talking points during any potential campaign.

My Verdict: In the absence of a Chris Christie or Jeb Bush type candidate, Haley Barbour could be the dark horse to surge through the field. America is becoming increasingly partisan and divided and his experience and willingness to debate the issues and not back down in the face of controversy may very well be needed. Civil Rights groups may attempt to attack him over his views on the slavery issue. The approach of President Barack Obama to use social class as his platform for re-election may actually work to Haley Barbour’s advantage insofar as, he’s faced these criticisms before and dealt with them through results. He could be the dark horse to emerge from the field against the background of the current national political climate.

Rick Santorum – 15th April 2011.

Richard “Rick” Santorum is a former United States Senator from the U.S. State of Pennsylvania. He declared his intention to form a Presidential exploratory committee to run as a potential Republican Party Presidential candidate in 2012. Considered by many to be a fiscal and social conservative and an outspoken politician. He has proved himself a controversial character over the years for an attack on the Catholic Church during which he linked the Child abuse scandal with homosexuality and criticising people in New Orleans for not evacuating on time at the time of Hurricane Katrina. He also claimed in 2006 that Weapons of Mass Destruction had been found in Iraq. In fact, he later had to back track on this comments after it turned out these were previously known about and discarded weapons which had been buried and rendered an ineffective threat. He has also had some questionable personal financial dealings surrounding his own properties and children’s education, claims which really haven’t disappeared. There were rumours he was going to enter the race in 2008 but due to low poll numbers that failed to materialise and he supported Mitt Romney at the time.

My Verdict: He is trying to attract support from the Tea Party as he clearly doesn’t have a strong support base compared to other declared candidates.  He addressed a gathering of Tea Party supporters in New Hampshire Statehouse’s lawn on Friday claiming, the 2012 election is a choice between the nation’s founding fathers or Obama. He often seems to get rattled under pressure when interviewed and while he will have supportive from some of the conservative base in the Republican Party, he is unlikely to be able to build any major support beyond that.  He is not likely to be a serious contender for the Presidential nomination and the best he can hope for is, the cards falling in his favour so he is asked to be a potential Vice Presidential candidate. He is divisive figure to many and any potential ticket with former Senator Santorum on it would realistically not stand a chance of beating president Obama in 2012 as controversy would be likely to follow.

Donald “Can” Trump President Obama

Yes, I know it is a discussion which has been the talk of many a studio or political analyst’s commentary. Can Donald Trump really beat President Barack Obama? My answer is yes! The one unique advantage Donald Trump has over President Obama and the rest of the field is that he is not a Politician.

In reality, Trump would most likely find it tougher to win the GOP nomination, than winning the Presidential race. There is no doubt Donald Trump is one of the most outstanding self-publicist’s and marketers in this modern era. He knows how to make a controversial quote, to get lots of media free attention for himself and his organisation.

The big issue going into 2012 will be the American economy beyond any shadow of a doubt. There will of course be the predictable issues, education, Healthcare, Planned Parenthood, the border security issue but the big issue for the independent voters who will determine the election, is the state of the economy. It would be unfair to place all the blame at President Obama’s doorstep for the current situation in the U.S. economy however; he hasn’t done himself any favours by extending the Bush Tax-cuts and introducing a weak stimulus plan. I think the Stimulus plan is a good example of where President Obama needs to improve. He secured the funding for the stimulus plan but it was missing the most important element, “the actual plan”.

Nobody can question Donald Trump’s business or educational credentials. He is a supremely intelligent individual and has overcome tough economic and financial crisis time and again to become one of the most successful businessmen in the world and a personality and ego to match.

The Republican Party really don’t have a clear cut candidate for 2012. Sarah Palin has been destroyed by the mainstream media, even before the race has begun. Romney couldn’t even beat John McCain last time out and Governor Chris Christie isn’t interested in running in 2012. They’ll easily have more than enough candidates for 2016 but not this time round. Beating President Obama is going to require deep pockets and something different to what they have at present. Donald Trump is the type of candidate that most independent voters would flock to. They want action not rhetoric.  So why can he win in 2012?

The Five P’s for a Trump victory

Policy – Trump is well travelled and mixes in a wide variety of circles. He will be able to call on some of the best policy advisors available and produce the detail that ordinary media commentators will demand. The big difference with Trump compared to many of the others is, he has it instinctively. Trump is able to go head to head on most issues, sure he may not have the military knowledge of some former Presidents but neither did President Obama. He’ll have some of the world’s best military advisors around him should he require them, so making the right decisions will be like any business deal he works on. If Trump sticks to his core issues and moves away from the Obama birth cert debate, he actually has some outstanding ideas about how to turn around America’s economic fortunes which will appeal to voters.

Personality – He is a straight talking person who will say what he thinks rather than saying the politically correct thing or popular thing. People will say his controversial character will go against him, the thing about Trump is that he often says things, that the average American thinks, but don’t say. His controversial character will get him as much press as any of his competitors, when they deliver a brilliant speech or announce a great policy. He articulates his views and points. He is respected and loathed in the same fashion the world over. This is actually a good thing you want some one leading your nation, who is not dictated to by interest groups or polls. America needs an action man and someone ready to roll up their sleeves, to return it to greatness. Trump is a great communicator and has listened to the American mood at the present time. They want their economy to improve, they are fed up with China taking their jobs and they want a strong character who will take a stand and take action not speak rhetoric. I believe people are slowly realising that the current President whilst a good man, is not a strong leader.

Plan – Donald Trump knows how to get things done no matter what project or business deal he is working on. He hires great people as you often hear on “The Apprentice” show.  Nobody will research the current problems and be more honest about them, than Donald Trump. He will draft a plan to tackle the issues and get the support and involvement from the private sector, if required to get the job done. He’ll also use his outstanding communication skills to let every man, woman, and child in America know, what is in it and how he needs their help to achieve it.

Performance – Trump has only known two things all his career, these being success and results matter. He won’t run for President if he doesn’t believe he can win. Trump is a winner out and out and will know, if he doesn’t deliver in the first four years, he’ll be voted out after the first term. The difference with a Trump Presidency is that he already has the relationships and contacts with private and public sector industry, to get effective collaboration underway at an early stage. He knows it will require the efforts of many teams of people, to get America performing economically again. He is the leader America so desperately needs from an economic viewpoint to revive its fortunes.

Patriot – I’m not an American but one thing that I always admire, is the American sense of Patriotism. It is very unique and a great part of what I admire about my American friends & colleagues. Trump always demonstrates in his manner and speeches, why he is proud to be an American. Even before he declared himself a Republican, Trump was always clear about American values, beliefs, and what makes it in his opinion, the greatest country in the world.

He talks America innovation and industry up, not down, like many of his would-be competitors. He speaks so passionately about America and his desire to see it great again and above all respected.

I have to admit, it is this last point, which got me to write about Trump. Trump is right, America has lost its aura of greatness and respect among the international community since President Bush went. Under President Bush, America may not have been liked but at least it was still respected. I can’t say that today.

If Trump really can get accepted by GOP and gets their machinery support behind him, he could be the type of candidate the voters will know is a very real and clear alternative to President Obama.

Herman Cain

Herman Cain is an American newspaper columnist, businessman, political activist, and radio show host from Georgia. He enjoyed a successful career with the Coca – Cola Company; Pillsbury is and perhaps is best known as the former chairman and CEO of Godfather’s Pizza. Mr. Cain announced Cain announced the formation of a Presidential exploratory committee on January 12, 2011.

In 1994, as chairman of the National Restaurant Association, he challenged then President Bill Clinton regarding the impact on businesses if his health care overhaul proposal were passed in a nationally televised debate. He currently host’s the radio talk show, “The Herman Cain Show,”  He has also been a critic of President Obama criticising his stimulus plan as simply a “spending bill” instead of meaningful stimulus through permanent tax cuts.

He is a Tea Party supporter and he stands for;

• A strong national defence
• The FairTax
• Tax cuts advocate
• Energy independence
• Capping and cutting government spending
• Restructuring Social Security
• Defending the US Constitution
• Opposed to Sharia Law in US
• Repeal of Healthcare Bill

I’ve seen Mr. Cain make some speeches and provide commentary and he is certainly a powerful well spoken man with a patriotic conviction, he is a proven outstanding businessman and a natural communicator. In many ways, he is in touch with what is wrong with America and how it should and could be governed.

My Verdict: He’ll provide some very memorable moments in the race if he enters but in reality, it is unlikely his challenge will last the distance or prove substantive. The present incumbent will draw many comparisons by some however; this man is a strong leader and will certainly be able to govern. He’ll challenge people on the issues but will be long out of the race before the Florida Party convention next year.