Friday, Nov. 11, 2011
Herman Cain
Herman Cain's presidential candidacy is Tea Party sentiment incarnate. The Godfather's Pizza CEO turned motivational pitchman has never held elected office, which makes him the perfect conduit for the right's antigovernment angst. The ideological heresies of his primary opponents have forced restive Republican voters into Cain's wide embrace, and even as embarrassing gaffes, confusing flip-flops on issues like abortion and sexual-harassment allegations (denied by Cain) have roiled his campaign, the Hermanator has enjoyed gravity-defying success in the polls. The GOP's head might be with Mitt Romney, but its heart is desperate to find someone else, and that dissatisfaction has fueled Cain's unlikely ascent.