Followup Video: Cain's Policy Punt

This moment was, to me, the defining moment of the Cain-Gingrich debate in The Woodlands on Saturday night. It came at the tail end of the discussion on Medicare. The night had been a lovefest between Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich. Moderator Ben Streusand asks the candidates, starting with Cain, to talk about defined benefit plans versus premium support.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cPJXVz6TP0

I was there liveblogging the debate, and along with the other bloggers nearby I was incredulous at Cain’s reaction — I tweeted “Did Cain just punt a question?” It’s pretty clear that Cain defers to Gingrich because he has no idea how to answer the question.

I don’t recall ever seeing anything like this in a presidential debate before.