Debate: Cain Dodges, Perry Stumbles

10 November 2011 |permalink | email article

Wednesday night’s CNBC Republican debate in a Detroit suburb was different from previous network debates in many ways, notably for tough questions asked by John Harwood, Maria Bartiromo and Jim Cramer. Bartiromo didn’t hesitate to confront Herman Cain about alleged improprieties. “Why should American people hire a president if they feel there are character issues?” Cain was ready, saying the accusations were false and was backed by a raucous, partisan crowd that cheered and hooted at his every word. Moments later Cain, when asked about health care reform in the last Congress, derisively referred to then Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the only woman ever to hold the post, as “Princess Nancy.”

The other significant moment occurred when Rick Perry, an admittedly poor debater, proved it with what the New York Times called a cringe-worthy gaffe. Turning to Ron Paul he proudly proclaimed that as president he would eliminate three federal agencies: Commerce, Education and …um. He couldn’t remember. Not just for a moment or two. He stumbled, fumbled for the third. He was given extra time. One of his rivals finally said: “The E.P.A?” Perry went into the debate with a 9 percent chance of winning the nomination, according to Intrade, an online market place. After his fumble, trades dropped immediately as low as 3 percent. According to Intrade, Mitt Romney rose from 67 percent to 70 percent during the debate.

L.A. Politics

A private poll, obtained by the L.A. Weekly, tends to upset the conventional wisdom that Zev Yaroslavsky is the front-runner to become the next mayor of Los Angeles in 2013. The poll suggests that Councilman Eric Garcetti and Controller Wendy Greuel are in a dead heat, with Zev Yaroslavsky trailing close behind. Early polls may be interesting, but most insiders don’t take them seriously. Four scenarios:

#1: Yaroslavsky runs, but mall magnate Rick Caruso does not: Garcetti 12, Gruel 12, Yaroslavsky 10, Jan Perry 5 and Austin Beutner 2. #2 Garcetti 15, Gruel 10, Yaroslavsky 8, Caruso 5, Perry 5, Beutner 2. #3 With Yaroslavsky out, Garcetti 18, Gruel 14, Caruso 5, Perry 5 and Beutner 2. #4 Gruel 16, Garcetti 15, Perry 5, Beutner 2. It not surprising that Beutner, the former city jobs czar, is 2 in all four scenarios. But it’s doubtful he will stay there. The campaign hasn’t started and the former Bill Clinton official will be well funded.

Quotable

A Wall Street Journal editorial Wednesday seemed shocked as to why senior D.C. Circuit Court Judge Lawrence Silberman, a Ronald Reagan appointee, in a 2–to-1 ruling upheld a key section of President Obama’s health care law.  The editorial warned Republicans not to assume that the Supreme Court will overturn the law in 2012.     

118