Herman Cain endorses Newt Gingrich
Herman Cain, at the time a Republican presidential candidate, greets the media as he exits a town hall meeting at Laurel Ridge on Dec 2 in Rock Hill, South Carolina. After suspending his campaign amid sexual misconduct allegations, Cain will appear at a South Carolina rally for his own candidacy on Friday to support his supposed alter-ego, comedian Stephen Colbert.
Herman Cain announced he will be backing Newt Gingrich for the 2012 US GOP presidential race Saturday night in West Palm Beach, Fla.
"I hereby officially and enthusiastically endorse Newt Gingrich for president of the United States," Cain told a cheering crowd. "Speaker Gingrich is a patriot. Speaker Gingrich is not afraid of bold ideas. And I also know that Speaker Gingrich is running for president and going through this sausage-grinder – I know what this sausage-grinder is all about. I know he is going through this sausage-grinder because he cares about the future of the United States of America."
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Cain also took to Twitter: "I am officially endorsing Newt Gingrich for President of the United States!"
Cain's move to put his support behind Gingrich comes three days before the Florida Republican primary where polls show GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney ahead by an average of nine percent. Gingrich has been attempting to rebuild traction in the Sunshine State, according to Politico.
"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 Gingrich’s other recent supporters are former Alaska governor Sarah Palin; his onetime presidential rival, Texas Gov. Rick Perry; and former senator Fred Thompson (Tenn.)"
Cain suspended his own presidential bid in November amid sexual harassment allegations and charges of having an extramarital affair.
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Though Cain's backing will increase Gingrich's media airtime, the question of how much Cain's support will help Gingrich remains. A recent Pew Research poll revealed political endorsements by prominent Republicans can end up hurting more than helping presidential candidates.