When can we be "reasonably sure" no other rethug will throw his/her hat in the primary ring?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

I consider myself pretty well informed on issues but I really don't "get" primary strategy and timing - especially for repigs.


How does this sound for a worse (for us) case scenario:

Romney/Cain.


The country is so divided along political lines I think WHOMEVER the repigs nominate is going to give President Obama a run for his money. I tend to think even the WORST repig candidate is going to get 48% of the vote - no matter what. Live boy, dead hooker aside.


Assuming Romney makes it past the fundies (assuming the repig base is really not THAT stupid) can Cain, as a VP candidate, siphon off enough African American vote to cause us a problem? Is that the reasoning behind Cain and Romney's buddy buddy act?

It seems as though that would fit in the Rove strategy of attacking the opponent's strength, in this case President Obama's overwhelming popularity with AA voters, versus attacking the President's weaknesses.

What do the DU strategically inclined folks think?

This, to me, seems like the only chance they have, short of some other entry in to the fray.

[HereSince1628]

1. I think after the first caucus and primary election

which last I heard were being moved up to early January.

Seems to me tha a person looking to make a splash as a potential 'political savior' would want to come in with a huge media splash after those early events signal 'disaster' to the movers and shakers who stand behind the GOP.

[Old and In the Way]

2. Conceivable to me.

None of the current candidates appear to have a significant % of the vote to insure they go into the nominating convention with a 1st ballot majority. Romney, being the political opportunist that he is, could certainly offer the VP to any of these jokers, assuming their % puts Romney over the top. Probably too soon to know that now. Personally, I think Cain brings zippo to Romney's election opportunity, in terms of AA support. Whatever conservative and AA support he does get would be offset by the independent voter who thinks Cain is a clown and doesn't want another Palin scenario (an idiot that's a heartbeat away from the presidency) or any TP VP candidate, for that matter.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

5. Both you and Nye Bevan make a good point re: Palin redux.

(BTW, Old and In The Way is one of (if not most) my favorite albums)

[Nye Bevan]

3. I really can't see Cain being Romney's running-mate.

That would be precisely the exact same mistake that McCain made in choosing Palin. Pick someone manifestly unqualified in an attempt to appeal to a particular constituency, in the hope that people won't realize that the possibility of this person being a heartbeat away from the Presidency is absolutely terrifying.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

7. Good point. Yeah, Caine's problem is his mouth.

His resume looks impressive - then he ruins it by talking. I suppose that was also Palin's problem.

[asjr]

4. It could get worse. Mitch McConnell might get

his face in the crowd.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

6. Now there's a thought that's gonna fester.

[leftstreet]

8. Why would the GOP want the Whitehouse in the middle of austerity cuts?

They just want the House and Senate

[TheWraith]

9. The deadline for the New Hampshire Primary is October 28th.

After that, no more new candidates can file, and anyone jumping in after that would be at a huge disadvantage.

[uponit7771]

10. "can Cain, as a VP candidate, siphon off enough AA vote to cause us a problem?" Are you serious?

It's obvious this man hates black people, blacks for a large part don't vote KKKon because of the Southern Strategy...