Cain's future hangs on talk with wife
Source: Agencies |
December 2, 2011, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
REPUBLICAN presidential candidate Herman Cain, his campaign brought low by allegations of sexual misconduct, said he will not decide whether to continue his fight for the nomination until he has discussed issues with his wife, possibly as early as today.
In the meantime, he said he is planning an aggressive campaign schedule across several US states in an attempt to reinvigorate a candidacy that moved him briefly into a neck-an-neck contest with Mitt Romney, the favorite of the Republican establishment as the party's candidate to challenge President Barack Obama next year.
Despite repeated denials of any wrongdoing, Cain's support and donations have dwindled under the weight of allegations of sexual harassment and, early this week, a claim by a 46-year-old woman that she had a 13-year affair with the candidate.
As polls show Obama's approval at record lows, Republicans could be in a strong position to block his re-election and retake the White House. Obama has been hurt by the economy's lackluster performance, high unemployment and the perception of many of his Democratic supporters that he has failed to deliver on political promises.
But the Republican primary contest remains in turmoil.
Romney, the former Massachusetts governor and venture capitalist, has held frontrunner status through most of the early campaigning, but with about a month left before the states begin making their choice of candidate in caucuses and primary elections the contest appears to be in the balance.
Romney has been unable to entice the support of conservative Republicans and members of its "tea party" wing. He is viewed as too moderate on issues that determine conservative ideological purity.
That has left him vulnerable to a series of challenges, first from Representative Michele Bachmann, then Texas Governor Rick Perry and Cain. They have all risen quickly into contention and just as rapidly fallen back as flaws became evident.
Now Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the House of Representatives, has rocketed past Romney in many polls as Cain struggles with the allegations of sexual misconduct and stumbles on important policy questions.
Cain is now saying he is reassessing and waiting until he talks in person with his wife before deciding whether to continue.
"I am not going to make a decision until after we talk face to face," he said.
Cain said he had spoken to his wife only by phone since Monday, the day his accuser went on television to make her allegations of the long affair.
In the meantime, he said he is planning an aggressive campaign schedule across several US states in an attempt to reinvigorate a candidacy that moved him briefly into a neck-an-neck contest with Mitt Romney, the favorite of the Republican establishment as the party's candidate to challenge President Barack Obama next year.
Despite repeated denials of any wrongdoing, Cain's support and donations have dwindled under the weight of allegations of sexual harassment and, early this week, a claim by a 46-year-old woman that she had a 13-year affair with the candidate.
As polls show Obama's approval at record lows, Republicans could be in a strong position to block his re-election and retake the White House. Obama has been hurt by the economy's lackluster performance, high unemployment and the perception of many of his Democratic supporters that he has failed to deliver on political promises.
But the Republican primary contest remains in turmoil.
Romney, the former Massachusetts governor and venture capitalist, has held frontrunner status through most of the early campaigning, but with about a month left before the states begin making their choice of candidate in caucuses and primary elections the contest appears to be in the balance.
Romney has been unable to entice the support of conservative Republicans and members of its "tea party" wing. He is viewed as too moderate on issues that determine conservative ideological purity.
That has left him vulnerable to a series of challenges, first from Representative Michele Bachmann, then Texas Governor Rick Perry and Cain. They have all risen quickly into contention and just as rapidly fallen back as flaws became evident.
Now Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the House of Representatives, has rocketed past Romney in many polls as Cain struggles with the allegations of sexual misconduct and stumbles on important policy questions.
Cain is now saying he is reassessing and waiting until he talks in person with his wife before deciding whether to continue.
"I am not going to make a decision until after we talk face to face," he said.
Cain said he had spoken to his wife only by phone since Monday, the day his accuser went on television to make her allegations of the long affair.
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