9330: Change From GOP…?

From The New York Daily News…

Herman Cain is stunning Florida GOP straw poll winner

By The Associated Press

If Florida Gov. Rick Scott is right, then Herman Cain will be the next President of the United States.

Scott boldly predicted Saturday before votes were counted that the winner of the Republican Party of Florida straw poll would win that state’s primary, the primary winner would be the party’s nominee and that nominee would beat President Obama in November 2012.

Cain, the former Godfather’s Pizza chief executive from Georgia, pulled an upset in the test vote, capturing the support of 986 delegates, more than double the 410 votes for Texas Gov. Rick Perry, the closest runner-up.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was a close third with 372 votes, followed by former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.

“He can win. He can beat Obama,” said Cynthia Henderson, president of the Tallahassee Republican Women’s Club Federated, who said she cast her vote for Cain.

“Now he has the motivation to raise money. He went toe-to-toe with everybody and made a difference. It will have to help him. It’s fun.”

While all declared candidates were on the ballot, the first-tier candidates did not compete.

Scott repeatedly said the straw poll would propel a candidate to the nomination.

“Winning the straw poll is important, and I think it is very, very significant,” Cain said.