Schieffer: Cain "can no longer be ignored"

He may not have the political resume of his GOP rivals in the race for president, but Herman Cain is surging ahead of them in terms of name recognition and popularity. The former CEO of Godfather's Pizza now has 78 percent of Republicans knowing who he is, says the latest Gallup poll -- up from 21 percent in March.

And according to a recent CBS News/New York Times poll, Cain is leading the GOP presidential pack with 25 percent of support from Republican primary voters, followed by Mitt Romney with 21 percent. Not a bad showing for someone who was initially considered an unknown when he entered the race.

CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley spoke with chief Washington correspondent and "Face the Nation" anchor Bob Schieffer, about the Herman Cain phenomenon. A transcript follows.

Pelley: Bob, I wonder how seriously should we take the Cain campaign?

Schieffer: I think it has to be taken very seriously at this point, Scott, and here's why. Think about this: Mitt Romney has been plodding along at about 25 percent in the polls and it's like he's been running most of his life. Rick Perry, the governor of Texas, gets into the race, zooms immediately to the top in the polls, has a couple of stumbles, and goes back down.

But then you take Herman Cain, who has no real campaign staff, has not raised very much money -- some people weren't even sure he was serious about this. He's gotten in, he makes a couple stumbles, and he keeps going up. Somehow or the other, Herman Cain is connecting with a big segment of Republican voters right now and that's why he can no longer be ignored.

Herman Cain: What you (probably) don't know
Herman Cain becomes a familiar name, poll shows

Pelley: But there's a long way to go. You mentioned the campaign financing and lack of organization. Does he have the legs for this race?

Schieffer: Well, we will find out. But so far so good for him. It's almost like one of those movies, Scott, where the candidate has no campaign staff, where he has no money, and then he just starts talking about things and people like it. That is what has happened for this candidate so far. These Republican voters like what he says. This may not carry him very far -- I don't know how far -- but so far it's going pretty good for Herman Cain.

Pelley: Bob, thank you very much. And as fortune would have it, Herman Cain will be Bob's guest this Sunday on "Face the Nation."

[merrily1941]

He needs to stick to pizza.

[ladyang]

You want to bet, that cain can't be ignored - just watch!!! Herman - who?

[doneinone]

you typed his name does not count.

[doneinone]

by pahgre October 29, 2011 10:14 AM EDT
Former pizza executive Herman Cain's rise to the top of the Republican presidential pack will undoubtedly put smiles on the faces of two brothers: Charles and David Koch.

The Koch Brothers are infamous for using their billions to finance the Tea Party and helping to gut business and environmental regulations. They have not been shy about influencing conservative politics, both through large direct contributions -- the Kochs have pledged to raise $200 million for the 2012 election -- and funding corporate front groups like Americans for Prosperity.
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Your comment is laughable......Cains associations are like Disney characters compared to that of Obama's.

Obama and his Allies
1. Odinga
2. Van Jones
3. Jerimieh Wright
4. Acorn
5. New Chicago Socialist Party
6. Bill Ayers
7. Bernadine Dorhn
8. Rashid Khalidi
9. Frank Marshall Davis
10. Govenor Blago
11. Andy Stern
12. Farrakhan
13. al Mansour
14. his Affinity for Marxists dates back to his college days

[dodinyc]

Who's ignoring Cain? He gets about as much positive press coverage as all the other candidates combined.

[Jhihmoac]

If you arent in or close to that 1% ultra-high income standing, that "9-9-9" plan seems more like the name should be inverted...

[cloopy]

cain lacks substance,cain is very very vague on how he would handle a widerange of issues if elected,cain has flip flopped on several issues,then he says either,i was kidding or i mispoke!cain has no foriegn policy experience,says he can learn? cains 999 wont work,and besides it was speaker gingrich who first introduced a flat taz option in his plan..speaker gingrich was the ringleader in the republican congress,pushed clinton to address,spending,welfare reform,cutting taxes,gingrich has the clarity,specifity and wins all debates,and lets face it,gingrich would destroy obama at debate///gingrich 2012

[sweetcakesmaria]

Does any of the Republican candidates have foreign policy experience? Not a single one of them does. Cain is at the very least a breath of fresh air from the same old tell the people what they want to hear bull that we get from most of these politicians. He is just a citizen like most of us that tells it like it is.

[stn_sage]

The Reps can run who they want to, but if they're silly enough
to run Cain, Obama will retain the White House!

The public is disappointed in Obama, and many feel that they
were fooled by his promises that he never delivered on, they
are not about to be fooled a second time...by Cain!

[CaptainSmollett]

Cain is a genuine, down-to-Earth, straight shooter who knows how free enterprise works. Unlike Obama, he has enough free-market experience to know how to stimulate the economy. Which is something Obama desperately lacks, as evidenced by his utter failure on the economy.

[jimbom121]

Wow, Captainl I did not realize Obama was president in 2008 when the economy cratered.

[leetrav]

Defying 'conventional politicalwisdom'(oxymoron) is Cain's stock and trade.
Mr. Herman Cain is a good man, a good Christian, a good problem solver, has much needed common sense, and is a 'proven' business and community leader. All qualities that are needed to get us out of the economic nightmare we all face. The 'career politicians' and all of those who have, blindly, 'played along' are the problem. That means us too. Over the last 60+ years we, sort of, put our trust in our leadership on 'cruise control'. 'We the People' trusted too much. We didn't pay enough attention to the 'details'. BOTH parties, over that same time period, began to put stuff over on us. It all started 'innocent' enough I'm sure. They have always, operated on the 'down low' when 'serving' us. Decades of 'political engineering' and manipulation. Relentlessly spending and spending some more. Passing their often hidden personal agendas and 'pork' in the mountains of bureaucratic mumbo jumbo, legislation, regulations, and the ever more confusing tax codes. It has, interestingly, benefited everyone, the 'special', and no one, all at the same time. Then to make matters worse they would spend and spend some more.
Now we find ourselves looking 'down the road', seeing emanate disaster, and We the People need to 'slam on the brakes'. We must defeat BOTH parties king-maker 'machines'. We must 'see' the media 'favoritism and manipulation'. They are and have always been 'followers and opportunist'. And because of the enormous amounts of money involved, they almost always pander to the 'party line' of one or both parties..
'We the People' have to reject this convoluted 'system', the GOP's darling RINOs, and Obama. We have let these people 'run amok' for far too long. The results speak for themselves. We are trying to survive the 'Worst economy since the Great Depression'. They are 'running up the tab' too. Workin' on 15 Trillion in debt. Worst of all, they are passing the 'bill' over to us, our children, and our children's children. What? Good grief.
The much touted and cumulative, wisdom, expertise, and experience 'on both sides of the isle' in Washington, very clearly...ain't all its cranked up to be. 'We the People' have to stop this madness. The good news...We Cain!
Vote for Herman Cain's common sense solutions, his 999 Plan followed by the fantastic FairTax, and a Strong American Republic.

[jimbom121]

Yeah, and lets get rid of social security, medicare and let the deficits spiral out of control, while neglectibg oiur bridges and roads.

That's the Cain plan (and the other Repubs also)

[jimbom121]

Herman Cain will not be the GOP nominee. At this time next year, he will have a show on Fox. That is what he is angling for. He has no campaign staff, nor organization, and instead of campaigning in Iowa, NH, South Carolina, Nevada or even Florida, he is on a book signing tour in Tennessee and Alabama.

Plus, the GOP establishment is lining up behind Romney.

Cain is toast.

[WoodrowWilsonSmith]

One of the goals of the progressive agenda is to infiltrate and take control of both major political parties. The Democrat party is at this time wholly controlled, 90% to 95%. The Republican party is 40% to 45% controlled. This leaves WE THE PEOPLE with very little true representation inside the belt way.

The progressives, Republican establishment, certainly want Romney on the ballot. That way, behind closed doors, Obama, Romney and the progressives can pat themselves on the back for having screwed over the people again giving us a choice of progressive #1 or progressive #2. They don't care which one wins because either/both will do their bidding.

[jimbom121]

LOL...you think progressives want Romney? If anything, they would want Cain or Perry because they would assure Obama staying in the WH.

The GOP establishment wants Romney.

[IBBuckshot]

That is the Wh*res of industry and investment banking. We are real, real sick of the picture.