Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich were on stage together in what was billed as a classic Lincoln-Douglas style debate. As I sat and watched the entire event, I came away with one vivid impression: Did I just finish watching the Republican presidential ticket in 2012? Cain/Gingrich?
Don’t laugh. It could happen. Romney has a ceiling of support and Rick Perry seems stuck in neutral.
Herman Cain’s poll numbers continue to impress and like Ronald Reagan, he seems to have a Teflon quality to him. Gingrich is steadily rising in the polls due to the fact that voters are starting to realize that this guy is REALLY smart and is an idea factory.
Could this be a ticket that provides both style and substance?
First of all, let’s start with this: They both respect each other and genuinely have a heartfelt friendship. Plus, for those voters concerned with Cain’s policy chops, bringing on Gingrich could placate some wary voters.
When I watched them on stage together Saturday night you could tell that Cain would LOVE to have Gingrich as his VP candidate. He even gave a big hint when he asked Gingrich the following question:
Herman Cain to Newt Gingrich: “If you were vice president of the United States, what would you want the president to assign you to do first? (Gingrich then began to laugh heartily)
Both of these men have triggered something inside the hearts of voters. They both strike a chord when they go after the liberal media but it’s much more than that.
Voters seem attracted to Gingrich for various reasons including his bluntness and a capacity to offer big ideas to solve big problems. Every event I go to people seem to gravitate to him because he is coming across as a serious candidate for a serious time in America.
As for Herman Cain, people simply like him and his no-nonsense approach. The more they hear him, the more they are starting to realize that while he doesn’t have the policy wonkish knowledge of Gingrich they do seem to believe he has good judgment and the ability to surround himself with the smartest people around.
Maybe Cain and Gingrich should take their Lincoln-Douglas style debates on the road. Make it a bi-weekly road show. Should they look into printing 2012 General Election signage too?
More on the event here.