Reader Advisory: This post contains strong language, which may be considered offensive!
Crabs in a barrel Syndrome, followed by the Clash of theTitans, embellished by cameo appearances of the non-featured actors (candidates); then, the closing credits, augmented by a post card from the poor kid, ostensibly left “Home Alone.” That’s my CliffsNotes-like summary of the CNN Western Republican Presidential Debate that took place last night in
Just to provide a modicum of perspective, allow me to frame the events as they unfolded, based on what I saw. The Debate turned quickly into an every man and woman (there were no children among the candidate’s, though that was not always clear) take-a-swing at Herman Cain’s inimitable 999 Plan. At another venue, Michele Bachmann had already suggested that if you turn the 999 upside down (666), you’ll find the Devil is in the details. Never let it be said Republicans have no sense of humor…though I am reasonably confident the Congresswoman was not joking. During one particularly amusing segment, Mr. Cain and Governor Romney engaged in facsimile of the Abbott & Costello “Who’s on First“ skit, substituting apples and oranges for the players. Funny stuff, I tell you!
This piling on, was a calculated and predictable gambit that I presaged weeks ago, when Mr. Cain won the Florida Straw Poll. At that time I noted that the Hermanator’s rise was at least in part due to the fact that as a perceived inexperienced (politically) outsider, he was not a threat. This view led all his fellow candidates to attack each other, especially the front runners, while leaving Mr. Cain unscathed. His rise to the top or near top of the heap was certain to dictate a change in outlook, and tactics by his fellow competitors. And it did last night. In effect, the six other candidates present jumped on Herm like “crabs in a barrel.”
After each candidate made it clear why he or she believed 999 was a fleeting novelty, the focus shifted to Governors Romney and Perry, the perceived Titans in the field. They duked it out on illegal immigration and job creation. On a couple of occasions, the former Massachusetts Governor all but told the Texas Governor to STFU, or in more polite terms, “Quiet please; don’t you know I’m speaking?” At one point, he went to lecture Governor Perry about the conventional etiquette of listening, and chided him to do more of it, if he wanted to be President.
The Texas Governor, in what some analysts deemed his best debate to date, called the Massachusetts Governor a hypocrite (and implied he was lying). Because they were positioned next to each other, the confrontational nature of their tiffs was heightened, and on full display.
It is important to note that while on paper, or based on polling, the race appears to be winnowing down to a 3-candidate field. However, based upon the all important notion that people vote with their wallets before going to the polling booth, the money poll tells an interesting and compelling story. The details through the September 30th, the Second Quarter of Campaign fundraising (Third Quarter of the year), show the following results:
- Rick Perry – $17.2 million.
- 1Q: $0 (not a candidate at the time)
- 2Q: $17.2 million
- Total: $17.2 million
- Cash on Hand – $15.0 million
- Debt: $339,113
- Mitt Romney - $14.2 million.
- 1Q: $18.2 million
- 2Q: $14.2 million
- Total: $32.4 million
- Cash on Hand – $14.6 million.
- Debt: None
- Ron Paul – $8.2 million.
- 1Q: $4.5 million
- 2Q: $8.2 million
- Total: 12.7 million
- Cash on Hand – $3.6 million
- Debt: None
- Jon Huntsman – $4.5 million.
- 1Q: $4.1 million
- 2Q: $4.5 million
- Total: $8.6 million*
- Cash on Hand – $326,614
- Debt: $3.14 million
- *Almost half, $4.2 million of the $8.6 million dollars Governor Huntsman has raised came from Governor Huntsman
- Michele Bachmann – $3.9 million.
- 1Q: $4.2 million.
- 2Q: $3.9 million?
- Total $8.1 million.
- Cash on Hand - $1.3 million
- Debt: $549,604
- Herman Cain – $2.8 million.
- 1Q: $2.5 million
- 2Q: $2.8 million
- Total: $5.3 Million
- Cash on Hand – $1.3 million
- Debt: $675,000
- Newt Gingrich – $807,962.
- 1Q: $2.1 million
- 2Q: $807,962
- Total: $2.9 million
- Cash on Hand – $353,416
- Debt: $1,192,865
- Rick Santorum – $704,199.
- 1Q: $500,000
- 2Q: 704,199
- Total: $1.2 million
- Cash on Hand – $189,556
- Debt: $71,866
- Tim Pawlenty
- Campaign ended two months ago; still owes $400,000
- Thad McCotter
- 3Q: $61,424 raised; just over $1,500 on hand as of 9/30
There is no question, Herman Cain may yet level the playing field in this category, but for now, he trails not only Governors Romney and Perry, but also Congressman Paul, Governor Huntsman, and Congresswoman Bachmann. It is more than fair to say, Mr. Cain has to make-up some ground, or face the possibility of becoming yet another frontrunner who could not hold on to the lead. For the time being, he is positioned well, according to the polls:
Polling Data
Poll | Date | Sample | Romney | Cain | Perry | Gingrich | Paul | Bachmann | Huntsman | Santorum | Spread |
RCP Average | 10/3 – 10/16 | -- | 23.9 | 23.4 | 12.9 | 8.3 | 8.1 | 4.9 | 1.7 | 1.7 | Romney +0.5 |
10/14 - 10/16 | 416 A | 26 | 25 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | Romney +1 | |
10/12 - 10/12 | 1000 | 29 | 29 | 9 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | Tie | |
10/7 - 10/10 | 484 RV | 22 | 30 | 14 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 | Cain +8 | |
10/6 - 10/10 | 336 RV | 23 | 27 | 16 | 8 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 1 | Cain +4 | |
10/6 - 10/10 | 410 A | 23 | 19 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 5 | 2 | -- | Romney +4 | |
10/6 - 10/9 | 391 A | 24 | 16 | 13 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 1 | Romney +8 | |
10/3 - 10/7 | 1064 A | 20 | 18 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 3 | Romney +2 |
In their cameos, the non-featured candidates took turns making sure the cameras caught their best side. They advanced an array of talking points, including:
- Newt Gingrich – Argued in his closing statement that the media (CNN’s Anderson Cooper) framed the questions in such a way as to promote strife and divisiveness among the candidates (No mention of the way they (candidates) responded to audience questions)
- Ron Paul – Intimated that he would cut aid to
- Michele Bachmann – Noted that by a date certain, she will build a fence along the entire border (with
- Rick Santorum – Asserted that Governor Romney’s advisors helped create Obamacare, and that he (Governor Romney) has no credibility on claims he would eliminate it
In effect, his actions were akin to mailing in a post card; he panned the Debate from a Town Hall meeting he attended in New Hampshire Trump Towers
In conclusion, “What Goes On In Vegas: The CNN Western GOP Presidential Debate,” for last night, anyway. The eighth debate; fifth since Labor Day, is in the books. Stay tuned for the next outing, scheduled for November 9th, in Rochester, Michigan. I’m done; holla back!
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