All eyes on Herman Cain in tonight's presidential debate

Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain speaks at a fundraiser for the Family Foundation on Saturday October 8, 2011 in Richmond, Va.

/ AP Photo/ Richmond Times-Dispatch, Dean Hoffmeyer

In the past few debates, the "Five Things to Watch" haven't changed that much. We all want to see how Rick Perry performs, whether Mitt Romney continues to deflect attacks, which one of the second-tier candidates shine or lands a blow, and so on--the usual stuff.

In tonight's debate, however, there is One Main Thing to Watch: the performance of Herman Cain.

If Cain continues to do well in these debates -- and avoids flip statements on things like electric border fences -- he's going to have a major impact on this race.

Already, Cain has shifted the dynamic in ways Rick Perry couldn't possibly have imagined when he announced he was running for president. Perry envisioned a two-man race against Romney, but so far he hasn't gotten the head-to-head matchup he wants.

Campaign insiders and strategists say privately that Cain has surprised them all by leaping over Perry in the polls. Cain, not Perry, is now neck-and-neck with Romney.

If anything, the more voters see of Rick Perry, the more they seem to like Herman Cain.

The question for Cain--not only in tonight's debate, but in this campaign--is how he will run as a frontrunner and with a largely grass roots campaign. So far he's rising to the occasion. The man isn't lacking in confidence.

Consider for example how Perry and Cain have handled the issue of religion, which I expect CNN's Anderson Cooper, the debate moderator, to bring up tonight. Perry needs the support of evangelicals -- who, for example, made up 60 percent of Republican voters in 2008 in Iowa -- to beat Romney. That could explain his refusal to more forcefully denounce two evangelical leaders (both Perry supporters) who have questioned Romney's faith and called Mormonism a cult.

But as Perry plays the balancing act on Mormonism--and sends his wife Anita to South Carolina to talk about his Christian faith--Cain delivers straight talk.

In an interview with the Associated Press over the weekend, Cain said he's a "staunch Christian conservative," but he just doesn't wear it "on my forehead."

Cain said Perry was wrong to think he would carry the evangelical vote -- because he has a message for those voters, too. Perry "thought he had carved out that niche," Cain told the AP, "when he didn't own that niche by himself."

I watched Cain work the crowds over the weekend, and I sat down with him Sunday afternoon. Some of the things you hear from the pundits who refuse to take him seriously are true. Perry is crushing him in fund-raising and in the number of campaign staffers he employs. And there's Cain's 9-9-9 flat tax plan, which has its share of skeptics.

But I wouldn't be so quick to overlook what Herman Cain also has: a message of hope and optimism that Republican voters want to hear -- and a willingness to say things most politicians won't.

A recurring theme in Cain's new book is how he refuses to quit when challenged. He bets on himself. He works harder.

And then when he takes heat -- as when he said blacks were "brainwashed" into voting lockstep for the Democratic party, or when entertainer and activist Harry Belafonte called him a "bad apple" -- he doesn't back down.

"Harry Belafonte called me a 'bad apple.' Okay, what's a 'good apple?'" Cain told me. "A good apple is a Democrat, a liberal, who shuts up and does what he or she is told and doesn't make waves. That must be a good apple. If that's a good apple, then by definition I am a bad apple. Because I think for myself. I am a conservative. I am running for president as a Republican and I'm going to win."

[maz_beachbum]

This debate is joke - I was looking for Romney and Perry to exchange blows there for a moment.

[anneshelby]

BORING

[kuching88]

Herman Cain: This week's GOP Wonder Boy

Jack Abramoff, Bernie Madoff, Ted Bundy and Charles Manson are unavailable so Republicans might settle for Romney, Perry or even "Uncle Herman" Cain.

A secessionist, a cultist, Confederates, economic radicals, a Jersey thug, Tea Party Twits and assorted religious nuts are all The GOP has to offer.

Republicans have become so radicalized as to be UN-AMERICAN.

We are witness to the death of the GOP. It is suicide.

[m1ldbrew]

To win as a Repuke, one must be more hateful, angry, loud, crass, and racist in any order. He/she must use scare tactics against any number of enemies as defined by Hannity, Coulter and Limbaugh.

[rogerrobie68]

Uhh... what a MSM farce. Cain is a clown shill, nothing more. My eyes will not be on him, except for comic relief. Ron Paul 2012

[chadananda]

Jan Crawford, you should be ashamed. "All eyes on Herman Cain" -- Really?

I'm just a little tired of you media folks telling me who I am interested in. Cain is a little like Sarah Palin. Momentarily entertaining but no serious ideas and no serious contribution. Certainly no serious plan.

Why are you media types bending every nerve to promote Cain? I suspect that if he was a serious threat to Obama you would be attacking his character in the most vile manner.

For many of us, Romney, Obama, Bush and Cain are all examples of people trapped in the Keynesian model of solving problems with more government spending. That model leads only to maximized spending -- which is to say, WAR. This is why both parties are trapped in the tarpit of constant war spending. Even if they want out, they persist because they believe that cutting spending would hurt the economy.

You in the press should be furious about how you have been manipulated and used to whip up fear with the constant war propaganda. That is what the press corp. is for, right? Cain is no different and you should be the first to notice this.

Do you think Cain believes in your values of a free press? Keynesianism leads incrementally away from all freedoms, including yours.

Ours eyes are not on Cain, they are on Keynes. We are watching carefully for the magical moment when serious discourse finally reaches all the way to the mainstream media. At that point the entire country will become engaged in our generation's most critical discussion -- about the purpose of government and the centrality of freedom.

Until then, you should realize that you are wasting your time writing what is essentially a gossip column.

[Jratzlaff123]

Who cares about this Knucklehead! Why is it people cant listen to someone with intelligence? Please for the love of our country get Ron Paul in there to clean up this mess!!

[Zyphxion]

According to Herman Cain's own website, the 999 plan "features zero tax on capital gains and repatriated profits", which means that people who make most of their money via capital gains (otherwise known as the extremely wealthy) will pay no or next to no income tax. Also, his plan will "offer additional deductions for those living and/or working in the zone", it doesn't promise "exemption" for those below the poverty line.

http://www.hermancain.com/999plan

[retm-w]

bmallen3

Why do 46% pay no federal taxes, because people like you want them paid below the poverty level for their work.

[rightbehind]

To spread hate and doubt you got to take him out "Koch Cain".
If free speech gets loose he will make a noose "Koch Cain".

[VoteLiberty2012]

I hope someone asks Cain where he stands on immigration.
He was for electrocuting immigrants
Then said he was 'joking'
Then today he says he was not joking. Unbelievable, if you think we are in tyranny now, wait for tyranny Cain style
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20121695-503544.html

Ron Paul 2012 - The only real candidate supported by individuals. If you want to end the status quo, Ron Paul !!!