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Romney's Chief Rivals on the Ropes

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    Will another candidate emerge as Mitt's main challenger after Cain and Perry's bad week?

  • Duration 6:43
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Welcome to the journal editorial.

Report -- -- well it was a rough week for two GOP presidential hopefuls with businessman Herman Cain fighting off a new allegations of sexual harassment.

And Texas governor Rick Perry having a brain freeze -- Wednesday -- Michigan debate so well.

Another candidate emerge from the GOP field is Mitt Romney's main challenger.

Let's ask Wall Street Journal columnist and deputy editor Dan -- anger and editorial board members Jason Riley.

And endorse the -- and it's so the and I think after the debate that no.

Question that Mitt Romney continues to be the strongest.

Runner in the front runner.

But who's likely to emerge here do you think to challenge him as the Iowa Caucuses get closer.

Well you know Paul we -- ask this question a lot and I must say every time I go through this exercise you say to yourself you go through the listing go.

And -- for having somebody that is -- -- my sure Paul Ryan's not on that stage they're making that the current candidates making that big an impression down or -- We we have really -- the Twilight Zone presidential nominations.

Herman Cain what is.

When problems and Rick Perry with speaking problems -- Mitt Romney can't get above point 5% apparently sinking in the most recent polls.

So the answer.

We are in a kind of unusual period -- it's hard to predict.

Herman Cain clearly has enough personal.

Media charisma to be a strong candidate.

If this issue doesn't blow MO -- stating.

I don't see him -- unless one of these stories and truly sinks.

Secondly on substance Newt Gingrich clearly is the one person on the stage of the -- just Romney and may -- Huntsman.

Who's actually talking in some depth about issues that matter to people so I think -- by and large those two.

About Herman Cain Jason.

Is he going to it to make it through this how how does he done this week as opposed to last.

Well at that looks like he's holding steady right now but if you Parse some of the poll numbers.

Republican women are starting to starting a lose lose ground with some of them might be.

Expected.

Whether he can hold up -- -- I don't know in the long run I don't think so.

Mitt Romney has had consistent trouble -- two groups in the GOP evangelicals and Tea Party supporters those the two groups push Michelle Bachmann.

Then push Rick Perry.

Now they're pushing Herman Cain.

I think cain's numbers are ultimately gonna fall and the question becomes will those two groups.

Resolve themselves to Mitt Romney or will they look for someone else like -- Newt Gingrich.

Time is running short -- less than two months -- Iowa.

Well and Dorsey you wrote this week that do you think Newt Gingrich could be the one who emerges here as the main challenger -- -- win the nomination what's your case I do and I believe not only because of Romney's weaknesses which are.

Very considerable.

Because he has not lost that sense of wanting the presidency so much just to put it bluntly that he would say anything you know we have on the one hand a bunch of -- people who would not run for this.

Office and the other -- about whom you are very fine I know yes.

And on the other hand we have.

Mr.

Romney who has this record which he keeps repeating.

What he did you know high -- after everything after all of -- talk about his -- me.

-- to have backed out on that union business was very kind and that's a vulnerability from -- but what does that what why why Gingrich why do you think that he was it was ruled out three months ago.

I've had enough mail on this telling me that everybody's been thinking -- and at -- expense in the -- on the campaign trail who listens to him.

-- is this extraordinary flow of substance.

Feeling and -- conviction -- put him at such dramatic odds both as a leader.

And whose ideas so contagious.

That he makes the room lined up on this is an important thing in the presidential.

-- could he knows the and I think he's the most knowledgeable government of all of them on the stage and that matters.

Well it ought to matter should I mean why don't we want somebody who got at least in for exactly that and that I think was essentially Rick Perry's problem.

This is the governor of Texas who decide at the last minute to run for the presidency he's got to talk about Washington positions by and -- -- an abstraction.

To a governor like that he simply hasn't absorbed them.

And like it or not people you know are so mad and angry at Washington.

If we're gonna fix Washington we're going to need a president who.

Who understands Washington in depth and understands that politics and insider it's actually.

And Newt Gingrich is clearly showing that he understands the -- -- of the problem and I think the.

Response and and his talent he's a talented.

Politician and we see that in the debates and have republicans' watch these debates that are imagining how this person might do against President Obama come October.

Of next year and clearly Newt Gingrich looks like he'd be a formal.

Personal announcement -- -- do you agree with Dan about Perry's problems because he came into the race was so much promise with his Texas jobs record assuming that that would be perfect for the moment.

Has has that has that his has his personal failings as a candidate.

-- that message.

Well of course you have to be able to communicate.

Your successes you have to be able to communicate you're stressed this was a man who has been running on his energy plan for the past month and couldn't remember that he wants to eliminate.

The Energy Department can you imagine that this.

Prepared well but I had for our luck before I can't alienate with -- had brain freezes like that on the year to everybody does I mean I don't think you can penalize them for it for free for that.

Exactly ride I mean this is not like George Romney.

And Mitt Romney's father saying I was brainwashed to set about a Vietnam about the 68 when he was that -- President Alexander a string of bad debate performances.

This is this is that the cherry on top of -- -- so to -- -- if this had been an isolated that okay maybe but we all know.

What -- debate performances leading up to now have been to -- point where he had considered not debating anymore you know I think reinforcement.

I think.

It didn't Mitt Romney wants.

-- came to stay strong because -- they figure he figures if Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich divide up the conservative vote.

He's gonna stay at his solid 20/20 5% and he can and he's way ahead of New Hampshire and and could even slip through and win in Iowa again briefly.

I agree and so they have to find some vulnerability in Mitt Romney and I would say quickly it's his position on taxes which is out of step.

With football all the Republicans now want it would flatten and lower rates and he won't do that okay.

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