Okay, so he’s got no former political experience. He’s held no prior political office. That could actually be a big boon at this point. Whatever the reason, Godfather Pizza chief executive officer Herman Cain stole the show at Thursday’s Fox News debate of Republican primary contenders in South Carolina.

Not all in the full field of GOPers were there to speak, of course. Missing were supposed big names like Mitt Romney – who is probably such a big name in part because the mainstream, liberal press likes him better than the real Republicans – and Sarah Palin, who is probably not running, anyway. But of those in attendance – Texas Rep. Ron Paul, former New Mexico and Minnesota governors Gary Johnson and Tim Pawlenty, respectively, and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum – Cain shone brightest. At least that’s what “29 of the most important people in America” said, as pollster Frank Luntz put it, in a focus group study following the debate.