Herman Cain: 'Today, I Could Not Support Rick Perry As The Nominee' (VIDEO)

GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain said on CNN Wednesday afternoon that he could not support fellow candidate Rick Perry as the Republican party's nominee.

Citing border security as a key divide, Cain told CNN's Wolf Blitzer, "Today, I could not support Rick Perry as the nominee for a host of reasons. Him being soft on securing the border is one of the reasons.”

Days after defeating Perry in the GOP's Florida straw poll by a significant margin, Cain aimed to distance himself from the Texas governor not just in the polls but also on policy. As noted by The Daily Caller, Cain explained that his immigration stance represents "a basic difference of opinion" with Perry.

“I feel very strongly about the need to secure the border for real, the need to enforce the laws that are already there, the need to promote the path to citizenship that’s already there,” Cain said.

The former CEO of Godfather's Pizza spent the earlier part of Wednesday responding to former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's comments that his straw poll win has made him "the flavor of the week." Appearing on CBS' "Early Show," Cain brushed off Palin's comment as "not true".

"Primarily, I have a message that's resonating with the American people, the voters," he said.

WATCH CAIN'S CNN INTERVIEW ABOVE (via The Daily Caller)

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Comments

[Redhand126]

02:32 PM on 09/29/2011

I agree with Herm on this one.."Hey Herm, 2 extra cheeses with mushroom, I live at.."

[phukuhuff]

02:00 PM on 09/29/2011

i always liked cain and i still like his opinions - but that 9 9 9 plan makes me wanna buy a pizza

[Rosalee Harris]

10:14 AM on 09/29/2011

I'm no Perry supporter but who does Herb Cain think have the most valid opinion on this issue. HIM a PIZZA guy or Perry the governor of a BORDER State.

[phukuhuff]

02:03 PM on 09/29/2011

i'd say the pizza guy - the governor of the border state gives illegals in state tuition and most of his jobs creations have been minimum wage and government jobs one of which allows more illegals to get those minimum wage jobs and the other was government subsidies

[gibraltar]

10:07 AM on 09/29/2011

Herb really meant I will not support him until he is the nominee then watch me fall in line.

[Stephen Stafford]

09:59 AM on 09/29/2011

Wow!Cain is displaying the "chitspah" Bachmann told you about.

Every now and again I post a friendly reminder that Cain has never been elected to any office in public life. He is a testament to something that in America, there are people who know the best place to start is the top. The very top.

He must truly know best. How come more of you are not bowing down?

[Badwater]

09:56 AM on 09/29/2011

Perry will no longer be soft on border security once he finally finishes memorizing the positions his handlers have drafted for him.

[phukuhuff]

02:04 PM on 09/29/2011

lol- i know hes needs thaose "handlers" he'd be lost without em - might be that learnin disability he suffers from

[Ron]

09:56 AM on 09/29/2011

Most people can't support Perry after he admitted his funding for illegals while taking funds away from american citizens, and the education system in Texas. His open border policy, like Bush claimed then alowed millions to enter into this country is more of the Bush like empty rhetoric. He'll say one thing, then do another, again just like Bush did. Perry's bad policy's overwhelme his claims, and assure he'll never get the nomination, thankgoodness. He's just another trainwreck waiting to happen, with his out of control ego, and arrogant attitude. He's already made way to many enimies to ever get close.

[oliver clothesov]

09:39 AM on 09/29/2011

America needs a bible thumping Texan with swagger in the White House. that will fix everything.

[phukuhuff]

02:05 PM on 09/29/2011

yaaa thats all america needs

[LoriAnn]

09:35 AM on 09/29/2011

mr caine.... you are all poster children for exactly what this country Does Not need in its leaders !!

[Badwater]

09:57 AM on 09/29/2011

What? I thought everyone liked pizza.

[dwill123]

09:21 AM on 09/29/2011

'Today, I Could Not Support Rick Perry As The Nominee'

First thing you've said that made sense since, two-for-one pizzas on Monday nights.

[MajorityLeft]

09:15 AM on 09/29/2011

herm is the #1 king of pandering to his base

[Badwater]

09:58 AM on 09/29/2011

Caine has to pander much harder than Perry or Palin. It's just the reality of being a person of color campaigning for the Republic nomination.

[Ed C Atlanta]

09:14 AM on 09/29/2011

Hey herm guess what,Ihave to agree with you, but at the same time today I can't support you as the nominee either,even though I don't vote repub,,neither of the two of you know the first thing about any type of foreign policy,,hell you guys don't even know anything about domestic policy,,you being a businessman and perry being a pay to play career politician,neither of you offer naything of new vaule to whatthe average voter is going through in this economic climate and to say that any of you understand our problems is just another lie propagated by the republican party,,

[mozart12]

09:04 AM on 09/29/2011

Cain is there to quell the notion that conservatives are racist, and maybe pull some black votes. On conservative talk radio the conversation revolved around Cain having a "Black" dialect which makes him unqualified for the presidency. This 'reason' was justified on the grounds that people don't like Sarah Palin because of the way she sounds.
Remember the Joe Biden comment about Obama being a clean articulate Black man. In short, there is no way Cain is going to get the GOP nomination. Enter Christie!

[somewhatodd]

08:51 AM on 09/29/2011

if herman cain pays taxes and if herman doesn't collect welfare, then that would prove that illegal immigrants pay taxes and are not a burden on society.

[Herm]

08:49 AM on 09/29/2011

Did Cain just say he knew he wasn't going to be the nominee and laid some groundwork for the first question he will be asked when he drops out of the race? "Who you going to support, Herman?" Dropouts always go for as many "you owe me one" commitments as they can from the remaining campaigners. You never know when you might need a favor. Or a job. Or a pardon. Whatever.