Former GOP (Republican) presidential candidate Herman Cain has decided to endorse the thrice-married Newt Gingrich after dropping out of the race for the party's presidential nomination. This development occurs after Rick Perry dropped out of the race and also endorsed Newt Gingrich.
Since then, polls have shown that he is losing ground against former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney in Florida, even as Mr. Gingrich has gained a lead in national surveys.
"I had it in my heart and mind a long time," Mr. Cain said of his endorsement, appearing with Mr. Gingrich at a Republican fundraiser. "Speaker Gingrich is a patriot. Speaker Gingrich is not afraid of bold ideas."
Mr. Gingrich joked, "I had no idea it would be this interesting an evening."
Mr. Cain is the latest in a series of popular conservative figures to back the former House speaker, while much of the GOP establishment is marshaling against him. Among Mr. Gingrich's other recent supporters are former Alaska governor Sarah Palin; his onetime presidential rival, Texas Governor Rick Perry; and former senator Fred Thompson from Tennessee.
Mr. Cain's own presidential bid ended in November amid allegations of sexual harassment and marital infidelity. However, the former Godfather's Pizza executive had ridden a wave of popularity prior to that scandal with his signature "9-9-9" tax reform plan and a charismatic and confident conservatism that found broad appeal among tea party-friendly activists. At the peak of his popularity, Mr. Cain was attracting thousands of supporters to his rallies and earning cheers and applause in his folksy debate performances.
He remains popular today among grassroots conservatives. He demonstrated particular popularity in Florida, where he earned a surprising win of a straw poll last summer (and launched his dramatic, if short-lived, rise to the top of the field).
Since he left the race, Mr. Cain has been quiet about whom he would endorse; last week, he said he was planning to endorse "We The People."
Although Mr. Gingrich needs any boost he can get in Florida, the timing of the endorsement was odd (too late to make the evening television newscasts, and sandwiched before the release of a new NBC/Marist poll showing a widening lead for Mr. Romney).
Mr. Gingrich said he hopes Mr. Cain will co-chair a commission to lead the policy discussion on the economy and taxes. He compared the idea to his request that Mr. Perry lead a commission on the 10th Amendment, which he proposed when Mr. Perry endorsed him in advance of last weekend's South Carolina primary.
"I realize that as a co-chair of a commission like that, there would be a little thing called 9-9-9 that would be brought in and put on the table. So I fully expect that," Mr. Gingrich said.
Former GOP (Republican) presidential candidate Herman Cain has decided to endorse the thrice-married Newt Gingrich after dropping out of the race for the party's presidential nomination. This development occurs after Rick Perry dropped out of the race and also endorsed Newt Gingrich.
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