Post-Cain Stuff

WILLIAM A. JACOBSON DEC 4, 2011 4:51 PM

In the wake of Herman Cain’s suspension of his campaign, lots of movement:

• Michele Bachmann claims to be picking up Cain supporters.  Just stop it.  Just stop it.  This is the same thing you pulled over the summer about Palin planning to endorse you.
• Rick Santorum seems like a nice guy, someone who is very genuine.  But his train will not be leaving the station.  If Newt’s endorsement of Dede Scozzafava over Doug Hoffman is a disqualifier, why isn’t Santorum’s endorsement of Arlen Specter over Pat Toomey?
• One issue Newt is going to have is hard feelings from his days as Speaker.  Apparently he was tough on people, and they remember.  My view:  Boo hoo, get over it and focus on beating Obama.
• The L.A. Times is digging into Bain Capital, and starting to do to Romney what Teddy did so well (for the record, I think it’s a distortion, but unfortunately for Romney, one which works in 30 second commercials).
• A bunch of Iowa polls show Newt in the lead.  Take nothing for granted.
• Perry staff feels it’s well positioned, but organization is not enough.  Karl at HotAir asks whether Perry can stage a comeback and concludes it’s not likely.

Completely off topic, this headline at Instapundit (Legless Man Denied Wheelchair) reminded me of the best headline ever.

Update:  Byron York, The insider-outsider divide over Newt Gingrich:

There’s a deep and growing divide in the Republican world between those who are able to reconcile themselves with — to wrap their heads around — the possibility of Newt Gingrich becoming the GOP presidential nominee, and those who are not.  It’s becoming increasingly clear that it is Washington insiders who are having the most trouble imagining a Gingrich nomination, while Republicans outside Washington aren’t having a problem.

The insiders — Tom Coburn, Peter King, Guy Molinari — complain about slights to them by Newt, while the outsiders remember the triumph of the Contract with America, balanced budgets, welfare reform, the end of big government as we know it. So Newt is an infighter and tought as nails — good.  Bruised egos need not apply.  See post earlier today, “Gingrich may be a lightning rod, but he also embodies the revolution like no one else”.

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