Cain suspends presidential bid over sex claims
Source: Agencies |
December 5, 2011, Monday
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A DEFIANT Herman Cain suspended his bid for the Republican presidential nomination on Saturday amid sexual misconduct allegations against him, throwing his staunchly conservative supporters up for grabs with just one month to go before the first caucuses in Iowa.
The businessman condemned the accusations as "false and unproven" but said they had been hurtful to his family, particularly his wife, Gloria, and were drowning out his ability to deliver his message.
His wife stood behind him on the stage, smiling and waving as the crowd chanted her name.
"So as of today (Saturday), with a lot of prayer and soul-searching, I am suspending my presidential campaign because of the continued distractions and the continued hurt caused on me and my family," a tired-looking Cain told supporters.
Cain's announcement provides a new twist in what has already been a volatile Republican race. Former United States House Speaker Newt Gingrich has, so far, been the biggest beneficiary of Cain's slide. Polls show Gingrich and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney atop the field in what is shaping up as a two-man race heading into the first nominating contests next month to choose a candidate to challenge President Barack Obama.
Cain's withdrawal was a remarkable turnabout for a man who just weeks ago vaulted out of nowhere to the top of the Republican presidential field, fueled by a populist, outsider appeal and his catchy 9-9-9 tax overhaul plan.
But his support started to erode after he fumbled policy questions on issues from abortion to Libya, leaving some to wonder if he was ready for the presidency. Then it was revealed at the end of October that the National Restaurant Association had paid money to two women who claimed he sexually harassed them while he was president of the body.
A third woman said Cain made inappropriate sexual advances but that she didn't file a complaint. A fourth woman also stepped forward to accuse Cain of groping her in a car in 1997.
His announcement on suspension on Saturday came five days after Ginger White claimed she and Cain had an affair for over a decade.
Cain has denied wrongdoing in all the cases and continued to do so on Saturday.
"Now, I have made many mistakes in life. Everybody has. I've made mistakes professionally, personally, as a candidate, in terms of how I run my campaign. And I take responsibility for the mistakes I've made, and I have been the very first to own up to any mistakes I've made," he said.
But Cain intoned: "I am at peace with my God. I am at peace with my wife. And she is at peace with me."
The businessman condemned the accusations as "false and unproven" but said they had been hurtful to his family, particularly his wife, Gloria, and were drowning out his ability to deliver his message.
His wife stood behind him on the stage, smiling and waving as the crowd chanted her name.
"So as of today (Saturday), with a lot of prayer and soul-searching, I am suspending my presidential campaign because of the continued distractions and the continued hurt caused on me and my family," a tired-looking Cain told supporters.
Cain's announcement provides a new twist in what has already been a volatile Republican race. Former United States House Speaker Newt Gingrich has, so far, been the biggest beneficiary of Cain's slide. Polls show Gingrich and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney atop the field in what is shaping up as a two-man race heading into the first nominating contests next month to choose a candidate to challenge President Barack Obama.
Cain's withdrawal was a remarkable turnabout for a man who just weeks ago vaulted out of nowhere to the top of the Republican presidential field, fueled by a populist, outsider appeal and his catchy 9-9-9 tax overhaul plan.
But his support started to erode after he fumbled policy questions on issues from abortion to Libya, leaving some to wonder if he was ready for the presidency. Then it was revealed at the end of October that the National Restaurant Association had paid money to two women who claimed he sexually harassed them while he was president of the body.
A third woman said Cain made inappropriate sexual advances but that she didn't file a complaint. A fourth woman also stepped forward to accuse Cain of groping her in a car in 1997.
His announcement on suspension on Saturday came five days after Ginger White claimed she and Cain had an affair for over a decade.
Cain has denied wrongdoing in all the cases and continued to do so on Saturday.
"Now, I have made many mistakes in life. Everybody has. I've made mistakes professionally, personally, as a candidate, in terms of how I run my campaign. And I take responsibility for the mistakes I've made, and I have been the very first to own up to any mistakes I've made," he said.
But Cain intoned: "I am at peace with my God. I am at peace with my wife. And she is at peace with me."
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