Cain-Rubio: A Transformative Ticket?

Two months ago on this broadcast I spoke of a rising figure in the conservative universe that I thought had a remarkable ability to inspire the movement and bring it together in a way that evokes warm memories of Ronald Reagan. That figure was Senator Marco Rubio.

Today I want to talk about another figure who also has a remarkable ability to inspire the movement and bring it together in a way that evokes warm memories of Ronald Reagan. That figure is Herman Cain.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I have been a supporter of Herman Cain since before he formally announced his candidacy for President. Of course I knew what a long-shot he was, but I was impressed by his experience, principles, political philosophy, work ethic and faith. I also saw in him that indescribable extra that makes the difference between a merely competent candidate and an exciting one. Some call it charisma, some call it sizzle, and some call it magic. Whatever metaphor you choose, when you see it, you know it – and Herman Cain has it.

Now, the nation is beginning to take him seriously. He clearly won the first Republican debate in May, and did very well in all the others according to virtually all the pundits, but he was still not considered a truly viable candidate by the media. His Florida Straw Poll win on Saturday changed everything, however. I was there and saw it coming two days earlier, at a Faith and Freedom Coalition meeting, and one day earlier at the CPAC, or Conservative Political Action Conference. Every time he spoke, he drew the most enthusiastic applause of the day. When he scheduled a last-minute meet and greet on Friday night, it was so over-subscribed that they had to move it to the largest room available, and it still wasn’t big enough. When Saturday’s Straw Poll vote came around, I thought there was a chance he could win it, but never did I expect that he would win so convincingly, getting more votes than Perry and Romney combined. That vote effectively shattered the myth that Herman Cain does not merit consideration as one of the top-tier candidates. He is now solidly in the top tier, and the new question is who will be on that tier with him a month from now?

Most people know that Herman was the CEO of Godfather’s Pizza. Many people don’t know that he rescued the company from near-bankruptcy to profitability and then engineered a buyout. Many people don’t know that he transformed the Philadelphia region of Burger King from one of the worst-performing regions to the best in the nation.

Many people don’t know that he has was a mathematics major at Morehouse and holds a Master’s Degree in computer science from Purdue as well as an honorary doctorate in computer science. And surprisingly few people know that he was Vice Chairman and then Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City in the 1990’s. The Atlantic Magazine says that at that time, "The Kansas City Fed [had] a reputation for monetary conservatism and distrust of central authority." Herman Cain therefore is not just a businessman who understands the micro-economics of running a business, creating jobs and turning a profit; he also understands the macro-economics of national monetary policy.

He has proven himself not merely as a business executive who knows how to cut costs, turn a profit and create jobs, but more specifically as a turn-around expert. Isn’t that what America needs now — a turn-around expert?

His 9-9-9 plan for tax reform, economic renewal and job creation has captured the national imagination.

Is this the year that a candidate with no experience in elective office but with considerable experience in leadership, systems analysis, strategic assessment, salesmanship and public policy development can emerge as a truly viable candidate for the highest office in the land? That remains to be seen, but he has certainly earned the right to be taken seriously alongside Mitt Romney and Rick Perry. And God bless him for bringing a sense of humor to the long and grueling quest for the nomination.

Now, set your own imagination free for a moment. Think of Herman debating Barack Obama. Wouldn’t that deprive the President of his divisive rhetoric about the Tea Party? And then let your imagine go a little further. Think about a perfect Vice Presidential candidate to form a working team: think about Marco Rubio. A Cain-Rubio ticket could transform American politics for a generation. It’s a long way off, and there are a million twists and turns in the road, but it’s enough to inspire me, and I hope you as well.