<b>Style</b>: To some, authoritative, booming, and confident, to others, bumptious and ineffective. Those just seeing him for the first time might have been surprised by his apparent lack of political heft.
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<b>Substance</b>: Boldly called for personal savings accounts for Social Security, but dodged on raising the retirement age.
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<b>The worst point</b>: His explanation of his early support for TARP clanked. Also: Risked mainstream support when maladroitly restating recent comments about having Muslims in his government.
<b>The best point</b>: As the only non-politician on the stage, played his business executive experience card at every turn.
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<b>The main thing</b>: Did nothing to slow down his recent rise in the polls, but did nothing to accelerate it either.
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<b>GRADE</b>: C
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<i>Candidate grades are based on both performance and success in using the debate to improve their standing in the nomination contest.</i>
In CNN interview, Cain says “African-Americans have been brainwashed into not being open minded, not even considering a conservative point of view.”
