Elizabeth Warren continues to generate enormous crowds at a series of events she is holding around the state to encourage people to volunteer for her campaign. The now-famous photo of the first one, in Framingham, can now be followed by these photos (both borrowed from Warren’s Facebook page) taken in Brockton and Pittsfield UPDATE: and Yarmouth, respectively (click for larger images):
In national news, a new WaPo/ABC News poll, taken after Politico’s blockbuster story about Herman Cain and sexual harassment broke, shows that GOP voters don’t much care about that kind of thing. Cain is still in a dead heat with Romney for the lead, with the rest of the pack well back, and 70% of respondents said that the allegations did not affect who they support. To those who think that Politico’s story has ended Cain’s chances of competing seriously in the early-state caucuses and primaries (to say nothing of winning), I’d respectfully suggest that you might want to reconsider, at least until the polling shows some kind of impact. So far, not happening. We may know more this afternoon, since the National Restaurant Association may decide today whether to release one of the complainants from her confidentiality agreement.
CAIN UPDATE (Friday afternoon): The National Restaurant Association did waive confidentiality, but so far, at least, the complainant has decided to say nothing more than that she stands by her accusations (without detailing exactly what they consisted of). So we don’t really have much more in the way of details. Meanwhile, after Mitt Romney delivered “a stilted, sober and tepidly received speech” at an event sponsored by Americans for Prosperity (i.e., the Koch brothers), Herman Cain absolutely slew the audience. According to a reporter who was there:
While Romney delivered canned jokes and policy prescriptions that sounded straight out of Al Gore’s playbook circa 1996 (“We’ve got to combine federal agencies!”), Cain demonstrated that he’s never more comfortable than in front of a big crowd. He brushed off the week’s brew of scandalous allegations that he may have sexually harassed several women who worked for him at the National Restaurant Association, explaining that such dirt-throwing is to be expected “when you are at the top.” The crowd went wild…. Herman Cain might not have any policy smarts, he doesn’t know squat about foreign policy, there’s that whole alleged sexual harassment thing. But compared to Romney in public, he is positively Reaganesque: an eternal optimist who exudes confidence in his abilities, if not necessarily his command of the details. “I’m going to be president,” he declared Friday to a raucous crowd that sounded a lot like they really believed him.
I’ll say it again: you count this guy out at your peril.
Finally, if you want a good laugh, check out Mitt Romney’s claim that, over his many years of well-documented flip-floppery, he has been “as consistent as human beings can be.” Just unbelievable. Does he really think anyone is going to buy that?
Peter Porcupine says
Does Seacoast Media usually post these ‘editorial board’ interviews? I’d like to see more than 47 seconds.
David says
instead of complaining about it?
Bob Neer says
n. Follower of an antiquated political ideology with no real-world record of success reduced to whining in lieu of discourse.
You can do better!
dcsohl says
It’s not too hard to find Seacoast Media’s video archive.
JimC says
One of them has to nominate, and could win, etc.
But there’s no denying that the field is really poor. Our second tier candidates in 2007/2008 were guys like Chris Dodd — a long-serving, highly respected Senator. I’m not trying to be mean, but the GOP bench needs a lot of work.
Christopher says
Her volunteer event will be at Butler Middle School on Gorham Street at 1PM this Sunday 11/6.
And for the record, yes, I count Cain out. There is no way a party that has been consistent about nominating someone whose “turn” it is and of reasonable electability will go with this no-namer who has never held office and says the craziest things. Bachmann looks credible by comparison. Unfortunately the last few years have also demonstrated that many GOP voters won’t go for an African-American.
SomervilleTom says
The GOP has spent twenty years cultivating its culture of ignorant, bigoted, greed-driven hate and fear. Men like Richard Mellon Scaife and the Koch brothers have successfully molded the party they bought into the vile mob it is today.
The Herman Cain poll numbers among Republican voters are, so far, going up rather than down. That speaks volumes about today’s Republican voters. Decades of exposure to the toxic rubbish spewed by Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck, and the Rupert Murdoch organization has taken its toll on America (which was not so pure to begin with).
We are in a culture war. The Occupy Everything movement is, so far, our principal instrument of opposition. Elizabeth Warren is among our most potent political leaders (President Barack Obama, sadly, is not).
I suggest that there is very strong evidence that the Koch brothers do not give up easily and are eager to direct their enormous wealth towards doing whatever they can to protect their investment in the American government.
For that reason, I think it is FAR TOO EARLY to ignore Herman Cain.
David says
the party you are talking about doesn’t really exist anymore. It’s been replaced by a very different creature whose needs and wants do not match the one you’re discussing. That’s why Cain continues to poll extremely well, and that’s why, if he is willing to make a few organizational tweaks (like hiring campaign staff in key states) he stands a good chance of humiliating Mitt Romney once again. You almost have to feel sorry for the guy. Almost.
hoi-polloi says
Attended the Warren volunteer event in Yarmouth today. EW was impressive, focused and passionate. Looking for forward to exchanging Kentucky’s 3rd Senator for a 2nd one from MA.