I didn’t watch last night’s GOP debate, because it was a debate. But judging by the reaction today, Herman Cain made the biggest impression. (Admittedly, in this crowd that’s not saying much.) Amanda Carey:

The five candidates who appeared on stage in South Carolina Thursday night for the first Republican primary debate of the 2012 election season neatly fell within their prescribed roles.

Texas Rep. Ron Paul was back in rare form (along with his “End the Fed!” supporters), former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum preached the conservative social issues agenda, businessman Herman Cain entertained with catchy one-liners, and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson was in full libertarian mode. And former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, described before the debate as being the only top-tier candidate participating, was exceedingly competent and knowledgeable, but failed to dominate the stage and deliver blows…

But while Pawlenty was seen as the only A-list candidate in the debate, Cain ended the night with the title of “winner,” confirmed by a focus group put together by Frank Luntz which was aired on Fox News’ “Hannity” after the debate. The focus group participants were in near universal agreement that Cain stole the show.

Here are the closing statements:

The more I listen to Herman Cain, the more I like him. Which I guess only counts if you think likability is a factor in electing a president. And, being of a mischievous mind, I can just imagine how he’d confound the race-obsessed left as an opponent. “Holy crap, what do we do? This guy is so black, he makes Obama look like Edgar Winter’s bloodless corpse half-buried in a snowbank. Begin Operation: Clarence Thomas!”

Because that’s all they can see. They can’t fathom that people could actually be drawn to Cain by who he is and what he says, not which box he checks under “Race.” It might actually be about… oh, what was that thing called? Oh yeah: the content of his character.

And to you lefties who bleat “Where are the jobs?” at Republicans and then turn around and laugh at Herman Cain for, um, creating jobs: If you want to fix the economy, why scoff at electing a president who has actually participated in it? The next time you point at Cain and make a sneering joke about pizza, ask yourself whether Obama has ever so much as delivered one.

P.S. For an example of the sort of thing we can expect, here’s one from a few months back: Black History Month is Herman Cain Playing the Race Minstrel for CPAC. Favorite line:

Let’s consider the routine. First, Cain enters the stage to Motown music. Then Cain feigns swimming after rolling up his sleeves to show them his black skin and how he is a hardworking negro (not like those other ones).

Good point. I wasn’t sure he was actually black until he showed me his forearms!