LEE’S SUMMIT, October 7, 2011 – The latest tracking Zogby poll shows Cain taking the lead among GOP candidates by 20 percentage points over nearest competitor Mitt Romney – who once again falls to 2nd place.  On a flat line average comparing Herman Cain to Mitt Romney, Cain still leads by an average of 19% to 15%.

Zoby Poll shows Herman Cain at 38%

Zogby Poll data for Herman Cain

The Herman Cain 9-9-9 plan calls for a Business Flat Tax of 9%, Individual Flat Tax of 9% and finally to make up the difference, a National Sales Tax of 9%.  His site explains it this way:

  • Current circumstances call for bolder action.
  • The Phase 1 Enhanced Plan incorporates the features of Phase One and gets us a step closer to Phase two.
  • I call on the Super Committee to pass the Phase 1 Enhanced Plan along with their spending cut package.
  • The Phase 1 Enhanced Plan unites Flat Tax supporters with Fair tax supporters.
  • Achieves the broadest possible tax base along with the lowest possible rate of 9%.
  • It ends the Payroll Tax completely – a permanent holiday!
  • Zero capital gains tax
  • Ends the Death Tax.
  • Eliminates double taxation of dividends
  • Business Flat Tax – 9%
    • Gross income less all investments, all purchases from other businesses and all dividends paid to shareholders.
    • Empowerment Zones will offer additional deductions for payroll employed in the zone.
  • Individual Flat Tax – 9%.
    • Gross income less charitable deductions.
    • Empowerment Zones will offer additional deductions for those living and/or working in the zone.
  • National Sales Tax – 9%.
    • This gets the Fair Tax off the sidelines and into the game.

Herman Cain is uniquely qualified to take on difficult leadership positions.  His entire career has centered on doing the impossible.  The Godfather’s Pizza turn-around being probably the best known.  Yet Cain lacks the one thing that would help him: How to deal with the Washington Bureaucracy that eats its political offspring as appetizers.

Mitt Romney can be seen as the candidate to vote for when no other candidate truly fires your conservative juices.  His numbers have been relatively steady at 15% + / – 3%.   On the June 30th Zogby poll Backman was the leader at 34% but she has faded from the picture at only 3% right now.  At the same time Romney had 14%.  Romney stayed consistent as Bachmann fell till Perry jumped in the race and took Bachmann down from 25% on July 25 to 9% on August 29; when Perry reached the high of 41%.

Zogby Poll Shows Bachmann's drop

Zogby Tracking Data for Michelle Bachmann

Romney, one could say is the tortoise to everyone else’s hare – the rise up quickly and fall precipitously.  The primary season is only 3 months away and the field is very much set.  Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey won’t be running, and neither will Governor Sarah Palin.  There are no other big names that could jump in and significantly change the field so Romney will have to start to make a charge if he’s going to gain the momentum going into the Iowa Caucuses, and the New Hampshire primary.

Zogby Poll shows Mitt Romney's Steady performance

Zogby Tracking Data for Mitt Romney

Rick Perry seems to have burst into the seen like a beautiful Nova Star but is quickly fading from the candidate sky.  He has to quickly learn how to package his message better, learn how to handle himself in the debate season, and most of all learn how to handle the press who constantly will attack him to take him off his game.

Zogby Tracking Data Shows Rick Perry Drop in the Polls

Zogby Tracking Data on Rick Perry

Perry and Romney have the one quality that I believe to be critical to the successful leadership of the nation: they have cut their leadership teeth in the Governor’s office.  The know how to get things through State Congress.  Cain has the “Turn-Around” moniker that makes his credentials very attractive to the Tea Party; who wants a fiscal conservative, pro-growth, pro-business, pro-America leader in the White House.

Zogby Tracking Poll Shows a Steady Ron Paul

Zogby Tracking Data for Ron Paul

Ron Paul, one could say is in a consistency battle with Romney.  His numbers have been steady at 11% and may actually represent a strong and committed Libertarian backing that just simply lacks the numbers.

The rest of the field seems to be stuck in the ruts of both the tortoise and the hare’s of this race.   Gingrich averages 3%, Santorum 3%, Huntsman 4%.

It is very early to tell anything other than the general shifts that are taking place among the candidates.  The one thing that seems to be for sure is that voters nationally are less and less happy with President Obama; his numbers are abysmal when it comes to approval rating (41% approve) and likelihood of voting for him in the next election (38% say he should be re-elected).

Cain has shown consistency in the debates, has shown the ability to learn how to reach people, and now seems ready to make his move to the Primary season.  I think a Cain – Romney ticket would be very interesting combining the leadership with the experience; but Romney has his eye on the Presidency and he would not settle for second place.  That, right there, then leaves me to ponder whether or not Cain can beat Obama’s war chest.  It may come down to who would be his running mate.

It is turning out to a very interesting race.

Respectfully Submitted
The Lee’s Summit Conservative