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Just after midnight, I got an e-mail press release in which the Herman Cain campaign reported that they finished the third quarter (ending Sept. 30) with $1.3 million cash on hand, having raised $2.8 million in the quarter. What’s more, a large slice of that money came in during late September, after Cain’s upset victory in the Sept. 24 Florida straw poll in Orlando.

Sources close to the campaign had told me that Cain was getting more than $100,000 a day in online contributions during the last week of September. And in last night’s press release, the campaign reported that the candidate’s surge had brought in $2 million in the first two weeks of October.

This astonishing news, combined with the Cain campaign’s relatively low “burn rate” and the fact that Cain has insisted on running a debt-free campaign, prompted a Republican strategist’s comment to me today in an interview: “You project that out over the course of the quarter and you’re talking … Romney-esque fundraising numbers. … [Y]ou’re conceivably looking at a campaign that hits January 1st with, potentially, ten million bucks cash on hand.” Such an interpretation contradicts the conventional wisdom of DC journalists, who claim the FEC report indicates the Cain campaign is “in jeopardy.”

A key component of the Cain campaign’s recent success had been the “9-9-9” tax plan. Although ridiculed by his opponents, the Atlanta businessman’s plan (9% flat taxes on personal income, consumer sales and corporate earnings) has been endorsed by the influential Club for Growth (“a truly revolutionary tax reform … a massive job-creating tax cut “) and praised by Art Laffer, the famous supply-side economist.

Cain’s month-long surge has been most noticeable in the Real Clear Politics national poll average, where he rose from 4.7% on Sept. 15 — when he was in fifth place — to 23.2% today, when he is in a virtual tie with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who is first at 23.5%. However, polls in key early states are now beginning to reflect Cain’s momentum as well. Cain leads the latest poll in Iowa (where Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann have “crashed,” according to the Public Policy Polling analysis) and polls also show Cain now gaining ground in New Hampshire, considered a must-win for Romney.

Given his sudden leap into the “first tier” of the 2012 GOP field, Cain clearly understands he is now a target for rivals, telling New Hampshire lawmakers Wednesday, “You know you must be doing something right when you get a lot of arrows in your back.” The recent rise of the former Godfather’s Pizza CEO has also prompted increasingly wild attacks from prominent liberal spokesmen, including MSNBC host Ed Schultz who on Thursday accused Cain of pandering to “white Republicans out there who don’t like black folks.”

Cain will face more intense (and more sane) scrutiny Sunday morning when he will be the featured guest on NBC’s Meet the Press, and then Tuesday in a Las Vegas debate televised on CNN.

topics:
Presidential Race 2012

View all comments (51) |

POST American| 10.15.11 @ 11:30PM

------------------------CAIN----------------------------
---------------------------is-------------------------------
--------------------------the------------------------------
-------------------------FED------------------------------

Margie| 10.16.11 @ 12:39AM

You are stupid.

Margie| 10.16.11 @ 12:40AM

Is everybody asleep?
This is GREAT news!!!

Clint| 10.16.11 @ 9:16AM

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz !

Margie| 10.16.11 @ 12:41AM

In the spirit of El Rushbo:
Right on, Right on, Right on!

Clint| 10.16.11 @ 9:17AM

Zzzzzzzzzzzz !

Pecos Pete| 10.16.11 @ 7:41AM

All aboard! All aboard the Cain Train!

Clint| 10.16.11 @ 9:17AM

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz !

Margie| 10.16.11 @ 12:23PM

The Paul-bots despise Herman Cain. Like all good conservatives that they try and trash, he's just another on their hate list.

Why?

He's a REAL conservative. He's a REAL Christian, and most of all: He's for a STRONG Military Defense.

Dream on, Paul-bots, your candidate is not only ready for bed, but terrorist sympathizers will NEVER become CEO's of these United States.

Clint| 10.16.11 @ 3:04PM

Bullshit, Screwball Israel Firster RINO-CINO Fanatic, Margie.

You Loved The Serial Traitor To Conservatism, John McCain Too.

Herman Cain's 9-9-9 Is A Pure Shuck & Jive Non-Starter.

Real Conservatives Will Never Allow Big Government To Have A National Sales Tax & An Income Tax.

Like Sarah Palin Said, He's The Flavor Of The Week.

Margie| 10.16.11 @ 4:03PM

Lies.
Lies
And More lies.

You're a complete and utter fool.

Clint| 10.16.11 @ 7:30PM

Tell Your Crap To The Heritage Foundation, Maniac Margie.

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.

Margie| 10.17.11 @ 12:36AM

You're still a fool.

Conservative View| 10.16.11 @ 4:12PM

Clint:

You may not know this, but Herman Cain's 999 plan has been tested for nine years. In 2002 a computer game called SimII came out. In that game was a 999 plan very much like Herman Cain's. And it works. Not only does it work, it works incredibly well. Now, what is shuck and jive? A plan tested for nine years, or what we have now.

The tax code we have now exists in large part to do two things, raise money so that elected officals can get elected again, and to control the public. Example of control: cigaretts. Cigaretts are bad for you, we all know that. So the government raises the cost of cigaretts by adding a tax. The government wants us to give up fosil fules, so they put a heavy tax on gas, and so on.

Now I don't know about you, but I deaply resent the Federal Government using the tax code to control me. Those elected officals work for me, I don't work for them. But the more that they control through the tax code, the more my freedom of choice becomes more expensive.

Shuck and jive? No, tested. Controling, not in the least. I don't need the tax code we have now, I need a Herman Cain.

Margie| 10.16.11 @ 4:17PM

Amen!

Clint| 10.16.11 @ 7:01PM

Tell That Cain Crap To The Heritage Foundation.
Conservatives Will Never Allow Big Government To Have A National Sales Tax & An Income Tax.

" It's also uncertain whether a consumption-based tax can coexist "alongside an income tax, no matter how low the rates," said Mike Franc, vice president of government studies for the conservative Heritage Foundation.
Also, Franc said, the rates would increase as the government needed more money. "Will a 9-9-9 plan inevitably over the years become a 15-15-15 plan, and ultimately a 30-30-30 plan? Or worse?" he asked.'

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.

Margie| 10.17.11 @ 12:36AM

They simply asked the question. YOU'RE the one wrongfully judging. Who says his plan is going to ADD taxes on top? And besides, it depends on how they write the law.

And you know it. The simple truth is, you're a cultist and are only for your cult leader, Ron Paul~ you couldn't care less about anyone else.

You're a fake, phony FRAUD.
LOL!

Maxwell| 10.17.11 @ 9:05AM

C. View, you have a link about this game? As a programmer I never play games but this looks interesting. Thanks.

Margie| 10.16.11 @ 4:55PM

Cultists believe (because they are deceived) that if they repeat lies enough, they will somehow be true.

Case in point: Sarah Palin towards Herman Cain~
The truth:
She praised him!

http://www.thegatewaypundit.co.....eek-video/

And then Sarah again on Herman Cain, about 1 1/2 minutes in:

http://video.foxbusiness.com/v.....t_id=87185

Seems Clint's part of the LIARS CLUB.

Surprise, surprise!

Clint| 10.16.11 @ 7:05PM

Maniac Margie, Labeling My My Practicing Catholicism, As "Cultism", After Labeling Mormonism As "Cultism".

" To a Cultist and blatant filthy liar, Bible believing Christians are maniacs and bigots.

In truth, it is the filthy liars that are going to Hell:

"Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy."
"Behold, I am coming soon, bringing My recompense, to repay every one for what he has done.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."
Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the Tree of Life and that they may enter the City by the Gates.
Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and every one who loves and practices falsehood." Rev. 22:11-15.

Repent, filthy liar! "

See A Therapist, Maniac Bigot Margie

Margie| 10.17.11 @ 12:28AM

So... you are calling the Lord God a liar?
Those are His Words, not mine.
He says liars go to Hell.
Read it and weep, filthy man.

Margie| 10.16.11 @ 4:59PM

And check this ot:

By AmSpec's own Stacy McCain on this whole lie:

http://theothermccain.com/2011.....-him-down/

And THIS:

http://libertylinked.com/posts...../View.aspx

Clint| 10.16.11 @ 7:11PM

You Are An Argument Against Yourself, Maniac Margie.

Like Sarah Palin Said," He's The Flavor Of The Week."

Aaaaand, She Said It "With All Due Respect."

Margie| 10.17.11 @ 12:29AM

You're so twisted and perverted. Anyone with half a brain can listen to Sarah's own words.
You're a fool.

syahrul syaputra guide | 10.16.11 @ 8:12AM

i think Herman Cain can Raise that Money?

Clint| 10.16.11 @ 9:16AM

Herman Cain was for TARP, before Herman Cain was against TARP.

Herman Cain was against Auditing The FED, before Herman Cain was for Auditing The FED.

Herman Cain was against having Muslims in his Cabinet, before Herman Cain was for having Muslims in his Cabinet.

Like Sarah Palin Said, He's The Flavor of The Week.

Clint| 10.16.11 @ 9:23AM

Zzzzzzzzzzz !

Talkin' about Herman put me to sleep.

Margie| 10.16.11 @ 5:40PM

You're already dead in your sins, Clinty-poo.
Are you also a backer of the "Wall Street Occupiers?"

Nazis and Communists Throw Their Support Behind Occupy Wall Street Movements:

http://www.thegatewaypundit.co.....-movement/

Clint| 10.16.11 @ 7:16PM

They Are Anarchist For Big Government Economic Buffoons.

On The Other Hand, We Tea Party Patriots, Oppose TARP, The FED, Crony Capitalism, FHLMC, FNMA.

Being That You're A Ruling Elites' RINO CINO Flunkie Stooge, You Wouldn't Get The Difference, Maniac Margie.

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.

Margie| 10.17.11 @ 12:30AM

The only Rebellion you're taking part in is te one against your Creator, Clint.

Repent. liar.

Anthony M| 10.16.11 @ 11:33AM

If the repubs nominate Cain, the Libertarian party is going to get a lot of votes in 2012. And I can't help but think someone, somewhere will start a "dixiepub" party. Cain means four more years of Obama.

PattyMor| 10.16.11 @ 12:52PM

Look, Herman Cain has the best chance to beat Romney. Is he perfect? No, but a lot better than the plastic banana, Romneycare, abortion supporting, and global warming adherent of Mitt Romney. And just why is Romney that much different than Obama?

No Herman can win! He connects with the voters like Sarah could. And he has a solid record of accomplishments and no pedigree from Harvard.
He can raise the money, and I'm doing my part. Join us on the Cain Train.

Margie| 10.16.11 @ 1:52PM

Country Class Women for Herman Cain 2012!

C Bowen | 10.16.11 @ 4:06PM

You thought Iraq was a threat which was a Ruling Class position shared by liberals like Hillary, John Kerry, Ted Kennedy, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush, right?

Margie| 10.16.11 @ 4:16PM

C Bowen, a rabid Paul-bot cultist and Blame America Firster~ you are afraid of your own shadow.

C Bowen | 10.17.11 @ 10:30AM

That doesn't make sense.

You were afraid of Saddam and agreed with Hillary Clinton that Saddam was a threat--right?

And so did your husband? You were both afraid of Saddam right?

Maybe a scared cat web site like the Weekly Standard would be a better fit for you?

Margie| 10.17.11 @ 7:02PM

And your phony type wouldn't have been "afraid" of Hitler in the 1930's, either, right?

You're an idiot. And I do believe Stormfront is a better place for you and your ilk, but sadly, you feel quite comfortable here because some of the authors seem to share your pathetic views on reality.

Clint| 10.16.11 @ 2:58PM

Angelo Codevilla,
"Unlike the ruling class, the country class does not share a single intellectual orthodoxy, set of tastes, or ideal lifestyle. Its different sectors draw their notions of human equality from different sources: Christians and Jews believe it is God's law. Libertarians assert it from Hobbesian and Darwinist bases. "

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.

Margie| 10.16.11 @ 4:02PM

"Unlike sane people, the cult mentality does not share the common values of common sense, intellectual honesty, or a lifestyle of true integrity. It's different sectors draw their notions of reality from cult leaders who hold to ridiculous notions not in accordance with either the norms of society or the Scriptures."
~Me.

Clint| 10.16.11 @ 7:24PM

You Call We Catholics "Cultists", You Call Practicing Mormons "Cultists", And You Call Dr.Ron Paul's Supporters "Cultists,"

You Are A Maniac, As Well As A Bigot.

See A Therapist.

Margie| 10.17.11 @ 12:32AM

Yup. If you follow a man instead of Christ, that's the definition.

Repent, liar.

Maurine | 10.17.11 @ 5:58AM

http://www.cheapuggbootoutlet.co.uk/

Kitty| 10.17.11 @ 6:25AM

Is it necessary for Herman Cain to raise 'Romney-esque' money?

Because, if money determined elections, then Steve Forbes would have been president.

Derek Leaberry| 10.17.11 @ 8:54AM

Herman Cain is for tax increases for most Americans, his 9-9-9 plan is anti- family and supports open borders immigration and amnesty. So he's actually worse than Mitt Romney and Rick Perry. Woe the Republican Party that it's candidates are so dreadful.

Casey Abell| 10.17.11 @ 8:55AM

At least Obama must have some fun fantasizing about that national sales tax. He could never get it through Congress, but what a wet dream for him! Hitting people's wallets directly every time they buy something? Barry gets wobbly in the knees just thinking about it.

Of course, he would demogogue Cain on the proposal en route to a crushing reelection win. But Barry has to love the idea of a Euro-style national sales tax on everything.

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