Raising Cain

Last Thursday night, the GOP held their first 2012 presidential debate and gave America a glimpse of what cold be considered the second tier as many of the estimated front runners skipped the event.

The evening provided an opportunity for someone to emerge, as has happened in years past. Quite a bit of money was placed on Tim Pawlenty, the former Governor of Minnesota, while many others just knew former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum would stand tall. Texas Congressman Ron Paul has a strong following, as we all know.

Unless you got the fever from examining a dark horse for he weekends upcoming Kentucky Derby, you may not have considered Georgia businessman Herman Cain might steal the show.

Although the other candidates held steady, it was Herman Cain that positioned himself as a candidate that could move up to the first team. Cain, a former military man who began his business career at Coca Cola, has had quite a distinguished career as the former CEO of Godfathers Pizza, Chairman of the National Restaurant Association and a position on the board of directors of the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank.

Cain spoke common sense, something America is clamoring for. I think America wants to eject from the tainted political process with an outsider who is free to run the country like an efficient business. This was evident in the overwhelming reaction by a Frank Luntz focus group, who came away in full support of Cain. The Wall Street Journal came away impressed also.

Recently, at the Tax Day TEA Party in Orlando, Cain was the headline speaker, and I quite like him. I am not sure if he can win the GOP nomination, but given the way Republicans give away the minority vote, Cain could give the GOP opportunities it could only dream of. Employing the business background Cains brings to the table, I think in this plain spoken Georgian you may have just met the GOP VP candidate for 2012.

Did you miss Cain dominate the debate? Take a listen as Cain recaps the evening in a discussion with CNBC's Larry Kudlow.



Cain is expected to formally announce his candidacy on May 21, 2011.