Herman Cain and The Power of the Media

Have you ever really wondered how powerful the media is?  Have you ever wanted to see a clear example of how the media can build or burn anyone in a week?  Well, you now have an example in Herman Cain. 

A while ago I explained to you why Herman Cain won the Florida straw poll.  It was pretty simple - the people participating in the straw poll were nearly all avid listeners of Cain's syndicated radio talk show.  In a competition where one guy has been de facto campaigning to the audience for years and the others haven't, who do you think would be likely to win?  Obviously the guy these people chose to tune into every morning.

Much was made of this victory for Cain in the media.  There was never any mention of what I wrote above, there was simply the shock headlines stating that Cain was ahead in Florida - which he wasn't at the time and isn't now.  At that time Cain was hovering around fourth place if you polled likely republican voters in Florida.  The news media just ignored the polling data that contradicted the straw poll and went about turning Cain into a front runner by declaring him a "winner" and a guy "who has got a shot," which was a far cry from the quirky outsider they were painting him as in the weeks before the straw poll.

All of a sudden cable media outlets were saying (over and over and over and over) that Cain is a legitimate front runner in the race for the republican nomination.  I watch the news all day long and I watch three different stations and the message was the same - Cain is a winner. 

Sure enough, once the media validated his existence, he shot up in the polls and is now a comfortable as a front runner in many states. 

Some of you may be asking the question - "what if it was Cain who changed his strategy and thus created the buzz around him that gave him the front runner status?"  That's a good question every single Beltway campaign consultant has asked that question as well. 

The thing about Cain is that he hasn't changed a thing since his first days on the campaign trail.  He didn't unveil some kind of advertising campaign, come up with a new tax plan or make some startling revelation about his abilities as a possible president.  Nope, the 9-9-9 plan has been around since he started this run and he still has no money to buy all that much advertising.  Nothing new has come from Cain.  The only "new" thing Cain has is a sticker slapped on his back by the media that says "legitimate candidate." 

Funny how a guy goes from zero to hero without changing a thing.  If the media likes you and wants you to do well, then it shall be.  If you're Ron Paul and the media hates you - you will never get full traction.  Just think about all the shocking finishes Ron Paul has had in the past eight years and never once has the media ever given him the time of day.  Cain wins one little straw poll (Paul has won dozens, by the way) and he's elevated to the top of the list. 

Did you find yourself considering Cain after FoxNews anointed him?  Be honest.  I bet you did.

Comments

[my opinion]

i believe herman caine will be the vp candidate with romney. if he pulls 25 percent of the black vote away from obama it will be a win-win for romney.