Herman Cain leaving the campaign trail: Why now?
| Washington
The Hermantor Experience is, by almost any measure, the hottest thing going in the GOP presidential primary (not named Chris Christie).
As , former Godfather鈥檚 Pizza CEO Herman Cain is romping in straw polls (Florida, and, this weekend, the ), killing it on social media, climbing in at least one national poll, and promoting a new book. Columnists at the and the have both given him love.
It鈥檚 momentum and recognition that the Rick Santorums and Jon Huntsmans of the GOP world must be lusting after.
But Cain seems destined to squander it. And here鈥檚 why.
As NBC鈥檚 thoughtful , Cain's promoting a book - and appears to be taking himself off the campaign trail for almost a month.
Cain won鈥檛 be back in the key state of Iowa until November. With all of the , that means he鈥檒l have six weeks (at best) to pound the trail before the Iowa caucuses in early January.
Perhaps equally telling, Cain's well-regarded communications director and her deputy are both leaving the campaign, with the director headed to鈥� for Louisiana Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne in a tough primary election. That鈥檚 not exactly a vote of confidence in Cain鈥檚 presidential prospects.
Herman Cain's campaign isn鈥檛 dead by any means. But look at the difference between his campaign and that of Texas Congressman Ron Paul. With Paul rising in the polls, the congressman started cutting aggressive broadcast ads pounding Texas Gov. Rick Perry, among others, and hauling in campaign dollars. Paul鈥檚 got two events in New Hampshire today.
When you peel off the campaign trail for four weeks in the heat of the fight, it raises questions about just what the heck a candidate is doing in the race anyway. As Decoder , all candidates not named Rick Perry or Mitt Romney have another goal in running for president to keep them going in the face of their slim poll numbers. For Ron Paul, it鈥檚 moving the national conversation toward his libertarian themes. For Jon Huntsman, it鈥檚 setting up a potential bid in 2016. For Michele Bachmann, it鈥檚 enshrining herself as a leading light of the GOP鈥檚 most hard-right members.
When you take yourself off the campaign trail just to flog a book, it raises the question: Why are you still around, Herman Cain? And what鈥檚 the real motive behind this run?
Go further:
- Get your copy of 鈥溾�� on Oct. 4.
- Believe in the Hermantor Experience? Work with Cain鈥檚 campaign by signing up .
- Read New York Magazine鈥檚 .
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