COMMENTARY | Former Godfather's Pizza CEO and presidential candidate Herman Cain has pulled ahead of President Barack Obama in the latest Rasmussen Poll. Cain is polling 43 percent among likely voters against Obama's 41 percent.
Cain has gained eight points in the last two weeks. With Mitt Romney and Rick Perry behind Obama in matchups, the Texas governor by a considerable amount, Cain has become the current greatest threat to Obama's theoretical second term.
How has a hitherto obscure former corporate CEO, who lost a previous run for the Senate, suddenly become the front runner in the 2012 race for the presidency?
Obama's relative unpopularity can only provide part of the answer to that question. Romney is the only other Republican candidate who comes close, trailing two points behind the president. Most of the other candidates trail Obama by double digits.
Cain exudes an air of self confidence and command of the English language that is matched only by Romney and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. He has rarely if ever stumbled in a debate situation. His stump speeches are sonorous and inspiring. But Romney and Newt Gingrich are behind Obama. Stage presence and oratory skills only explains another part of Cain's appeal.
The other part of Cain's appeal is his 9-9-9 tax plan, for a 9 percent tax on personal income, corporate income and sales of goods and services. Whatever the criticisms of the proposal, it is beautiful in its simplicity. Anyone can understand the idea of getting rid of the Byzantine complexity of the tax code and replacing it with a simple, single rate. Cain has mounted a spirited defense of the 9-9-9 proposal, answering some of the criticisms.
The fact Cain is black and a conservative has driven the left crazy and provided tea party conservatives an answer to charges of racism. While he has no experience in political office and people like that are hardly ever elected president, 2012 may be the year that a private citizen can claim the presidency as his first elected office. Having served in elected office in the past few years leaves one open to the charge of being part of the problem. Cain has not such vulnerability.
Can Cain make his lead last? Perhaps. But if he is nominated, he is not going to be easy for Obama to beat. In fact, it may be impossible.
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