Herman Cain’s campaign, 9-9-9 tax plan face greater scrutiny as GOP race heats up

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Source: Wash. Post

Herman Cain has succeeded in introducing himself to voters. He has moved from the bottom of the pack all the way to the top. His “9-9-9” tax plan is the most talked-about proposal of the fight for the Republican nomination.

But as the battle moves beyond televised debates and into a phase in which organization and on-the-ground campaigning become increasingly crucial, Cain will face his toughest test yet — demonstrating that there is more to his tax plan, his campaign structure and his positions on other crucial issues than he’s shown so far.

As questions add up over what the 9-9-9 plan would do, whom it would help and hurt, Cain’s explanations have fallen short of answering them. The essence of his response is: I’m right and you’re wrong. At the same time, he must contend with other weaknesses in his campaign, including his stumbles on foreign policy and lack of organization in crucial states.

“There are a lot of moments where he says ‘I misspoke’ or ‘I was joking’ or ‘I didn’t mean that,’ ” said Chuck Laudner, a former executive director of the Iowa GOP. “It’s a worry with a lot of caucus-goers that I’ve talked to.”

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/herman-cains-campaign-9-9-9-tax-plan-faces-greater-scrutiny-as-gop-race-heats-up/2011/10/19/gIQAHHKeyL_story.html