Herman Cain Gets Secret Service Protection After Death Threats

WASHINGTON — Herman Cain on Thursday became the first Republican presidential candidate to receive Secret Service protection. Cain asked for the security and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and congressional leaders approved his request Thursday, Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan confirmed.

Elite agents were expected to begin protecting the former pizza company executive sometime Thursday.

There have been threats against Cain, who had been experiencing a bounce in the polls, according to an official with knowledge of the situation who asked not to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the situation. The nature of the threats was unclear.

Donovan would not say whether there had been any threats or discuss why protection was being provided.

Cain's campaign had no immediate comment.

Secret Service protection is given to each major party's presidential nominee, but can be provided earlier if the Department of Homeland Security approves a campaign's request.

When then-Sen. Barack Obama was placed under Secret Service protection in May 2007, it was the earliest ever for a presidential candidate. One of his rivals, Hillary Rodham Clinton, already had a protective detail because she was a former first lady.

In the 2004 campaign, Democratic candidates John Kerry and John Edwards received their protection in February of that year as they competed for the party's nomination.

Federal law allows candidates to seek protection if they meet a series of standards, including public prominence as measured by polls and fundraising.

Napolitano consulted Thursday with a congressional advisory committee made up of the House speaker, the House and Senate majority and minority leaders and the House sergeant at arms, the chief law enforcement officer in the House.

Cain has been dogged in recent weeks by allegations of sexual harassment by women who worked for him when he headed the National Restaurant Association, an industry trade group, in the 1990s. He has denied the charges.

Cain's poll numbers have sunk as he has struggled to explain the allegations and overcome stumbles when discussing campaign issues, such as U.S. policy in Libya.

Even so, Cain continues to run strong among Republican voters.

"The people that are on the Cain train, they don't get off because of that crap," Cain said Thursday in New Hampshire, hours before his request for protection was approved.

Comments

[Ronald B. Robinson]

12:37 AM on 11/20/2011

I predict this is part of his "exit strategy" from the campaign. He will claim it's just too dangerous for his wife and "Herman Cain," and that he's exiting, NOT because he's a quitter, but for the "safety of his family." Thing is, it'll work wonders for him to play victim as he gets an "honorary Chair" at the Koch's "Cato Institute" and his own show on Fox.

[tzdeb]

10:24 PM on 11/19/2011

Reading the comments that are posted here, it is appalling how a black candidate is so disrespected and vilified as is Herman Cain. Barack Obama was not subjected to this abuse being half white with foreign roots otherwise he would have been similarly humiliated as Cain who is 100% black from American slave roots.

[each his own wat a joke]

12:16 AM on 11/20/2011

he didnt march in the 60's with his fellow rights people

[cutesky]

12:46 AM on 11/20/2011

tzdeb, you have just spouted a gigantic load of cr*p!!!!!

[stevec2nd]

09:49 PM on 11/19/2011

The only ones who could possibly want him violently eliminated must be republicans, because democrats have nothing to fear from him. He guarantees a democratic victory.

[ksmith68]

07:15 PM on 11/19/2011

I guess someone threaten to hit him with a piece of 9-9-9 pizza special!!!!!

[each his own wat a joke]

06:18 PM on 11/19/2011

if he would stop trying to get the girls to check out his sausage deluxe,nobody would wanna kill him.

[dgvb]

06:12 PM on 11/19/2011

Why would anyone bother? If you listen to the guy for about five minutes, you find out he's so stupid, he's practically "killing" himself.

[JMiler]

01:20 PM on 11/19/2011

Is Ronald McDonald also qualified to receive secret service protection? He has about the same credentials as Cain and would probably make a better President.

[tzdeb]

11:07 AM on 11/19/2011

The person most likely to try to assasinate Herman Cain would be a white bigot. It is sad that a black candidate needs secret service protection in this day and age.

[cutesky]

12:53 AM on 11/20/2011

Did you say the same thing when Pres. Obama was a candidate??? I don't think so. Whatever Cain's color...he is just a huckster, snake oil salesman and knows nothing about current event, world affairs, geogarphy, politics and statesmanship. The person he offends the most is probably not a big white bigot but his wife, Gloria who has suffered disgrace because of his penchant for sexually harassing women .

[wdjmozingo]

08:33 AM on 11/19/2011

How to we know he didnt make it up to try and get people to feel sorry for him?Herm,go back to making pizza's.

[ZackShorty]

01:40 AM on 11/19/2011

Anyone can make a death threat to anyone else. Happens every day. Fortunately, less than 99.9 per cent follow up, and out of the ones that do try something, their arrow usually
just dribbles off the bow. Anyone intent on killing someone, doesn't usually send them a warning. If you are President, you know these threats come with the territory. If you are a pizza man hoping to be the POTUS, the only person you have to worry about is the guy that received his $15.00 pie, cold and an hour late. Thats when you have to duck Herm!

[rmaguro]

01:11 AM on 11/19/2011

I heard that he wants Papa John for a running mate because he has a peel.

[tbob777]

12:29 AM on 11/19/2011

But I thought Mr. Cain hated the government! It's funny how the gov haters run to the gov the first time they NEED something. Hypocrite...pay for your own security services...you've got the pizza bucks to do it.

[florencephoenix]

01:54 AM on 11/19/2011

That is exactly how I feel. Is this the same man that criticized wasteful goverment spending and wants to reduce the size of goverment. What about getting goverment out of our personal lives. That what you were shouting from the rooftops. podium, and bus stop.
Yes it all sounds good on a sound bite. But look what happens when reality steps in . Who did you want to protect you Mr Cain? Sercuirty that you could have paid for out of your campaign funds? No you wanted the Secrect Service, is that not part of the goverment? Paid for by the 99%ers. The tax payers. Code name Cornbread. How original Mr.Cain.

[talus16]

07:08 AM on 11/19/2011

Both of you all are right on. So many of these republicans are hypocrits when it comes to government services. At this point Mr Cain is a private citizen who has declared his intentions - he has not been nominated. I don't believe I could call the Secret Service and say I'm scared and have them to anything about it. Waste - AGAIN of our money.

[Charles Queen]

12:16 AM on 11/19/2011

Yep and he thinks the taliban may be playing a role in Lybia also.I think we would have already been aware of this if it was true,We do have plenty of CIA on the ground there yet,unless they could be playing the silent partner game,even then someone would eventualy open their mouths and we would still know if it was true or not

[bungaylad]

12:09 AM on 11/19/2011

He must have spotted a gun toten Hocky Mom in the crowd. Who else would bother.

[OneLiberalLady]

11:08 PM on 11/18/2011

He is a grifter, in the race for the mo ney, with no prospect of getting anywhere near the ticket. Taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for this