Michele Bachmann And Ron Paul Say They'll Pick Up Herman Cain Supporters

WASHINGTON -- GOP presidential hopefuls Michele Bachmann and Ron Paul reacted Sunday to fellow candidate Herman Cain suspending his campaign, each saying they will pick up votes from Cain supporters.

Bachmann, a congresswoman from Minnesota, told Fox News' Chris Wallace on "Fox News Sunday" that she respects Cain and believes he was good for the Republican primary in general. Cain suspended his campaign on Saturday after mounting allegations that he sexually harassed women and had a 13-year affair with a "friend" named Ginger White.

"That was his decision" to suspend his campaign, Bachmann said. "I do know this, he brought so much energy and good will to this race. I think he has a marvelous personality, everyone enjoys him, and he's an intriguing candidate, a good candidate. The race was better for having Herman in the race, and I really enjoyed talking to him all through the race."

She said her campaign received numerous calls on Saturday from "people who wanted to switch over," saying she is "the true Tea Party candidate" in the race.

"I think we're going to pick up a lot of the support around the country from people who supported Herman Cain," she said.

Bachmann said she has previously defeated low expectations, citing as examples her election to the House of Representatives and her victory in the Iowa straw poll earlier this year.

"We fully intend to win in Iowa," she said. "I think that what people will find is that in this case too, the underdog has a very good chance of winning. We're working hard, because I am the only consistent core conservative in this race. Ultimately, I think people are going to come back on January 3 and I think I'll get their vote.

Ron Paul, a congressman from Texas and repeat presidential candidate, also said he believes he will pick up votes from Cain supporters, based on his bona fides as a Tea Party candidate. He said he likes to think of himself "as the flavor of the decade" and will continue to push his platform, which includes ending wars in the Middle East and boosting the economy.

"We've had the flavors of the month up and down so far in this campaign," Paul told CNN's Candy Crowley on "State of the Nation." "I'd like to think of myself as the flavor of the decade. So we keep plodding along on a couple issues that are really striking a chord with the people."

Paul said his camp is paying attention to where Cain supporters will move after the candidate suspended his campaign, particularly as those shifts begin to take place in the next few weeks. But he remained confident that he will be boosted by the shrinking of the GOP primary field.

"There are a lot of people who call themselves Tea Party people who did like the independent-mindedness of Herman Cain," he said. "So I think that I will probably do better, even though some people say, 'Oh, no, they're all going to go to so-and-so.'"

Comments

[patters85]

12:03 AM on 12/12/2011

My none support for Cain can go to Bachmann and Paul as well. I don't mind. Maybe that will get them to quit sooner.

[Mahi vce]

12:14 PM on 12/06/2011

Cain Forums Admin supporting Ron Paul now
http://www.hermancainforums.com/index.php

[parksle2]

07:42 PM on 12/05/2011

gee, what a profound statement. there is no hope!

[ennis438]

12:50 PM on 12/05/2011

Many Cain supporters will go to Gingrich. Both of them preach family values while screwing other women on the sidelines. Seemingly, some Republiar moralists like this trait in their selection.

[realpolitic]

11:53 AM on 12/05/2011

While Paul's devoted followers are more like a cult, Bachmann is very correct that she is "the true Tea Party candidate" in the race. However, she picked the wrong group of people to represent as the Tea Party is sinking lower and lower in polling. "More Americans consider themselves strong opponents of the Tea Party movement than strong supporters, by 20% to 14%, and the ratio is a similar 22% to 15% among registered voters." The Tea Party is seen as judgemental and responsible for the breakdown in Congress that resulted in our credit downgrade.

[dagacheme]

12:09 PM on 12/05/2011

Why is wanting the government to function within the guidelines of the Constitution considered to be "like a cult"?

[realpolitic]

12:45 PM on 12/05/2011

Well, because they brook no criticism of Paul. Any criticism is attacked as being unfounded and Paul has some pretty far out there ideas. For example, you say Paul wants the government to function within the guidelines of the constitution. Since when did you guys come to own the constitution?

[piratesfan23]

12:08 PM on 12/06/2011

Also. Your interpretation means jack ****.

The idea of a republic is justice. That we are all treated equally, under the law. To be treated equality is to have your life, liberty, and property protected from others and the government. If there wasn't narcissists like yourself or bureaucrats or manipulated citizens who think "well lets just justify this law or that law regardless of constitutionality... whatever benefits me...."

Anyone can justify any argument. That's how we've gotten to this point. "Oh, but this was necessary; I had no other choice; it was for the benefit of "all Americans" "Everyone has broken the rules and the principles for their own party or subgroups benefit. That has never made it right and that has never meant that it will bring our country anything but its own destruction.

So your "interpretation" can be whatever it wants. Maybe your from new york, and want to think the giants losing to the packers was some kind of moral victory or eli manning played a great...all I care about is that the game was refereed correctly - following the rules, without corruption and bureaucracy.

That is why Ron Paul is the only POTUS who isn't a necessary evil. Because he understands the rules. And thats why hes the most conservative and most liberal candidate in the race. Because that's what freedom looks like when our federal government isn't attempting to regulate and control everything in its path.

[realpolitic]

12:30 PM on 12/06/2011

You Paul fans have really gone over the deep end.

[SeedPlanter]

11:36 AM on 12/05/2011

"Each of us must choose what course of action we must take. Education, conventional political action, or even peaceful civil disobedience to bring about necessary changes, but let it not be said that we did nothing. Let not those who love the power of the welfare warfare state label the dissenters of authoritarianism as unpatriotic or uncaring. Patriotism is more closely linked to dissent then it is to conformity, and a blind desire for safety and security. Understanding the magnificent rewards for a free society makes us unbashful in its promotion, fully realizing that maximum wealth is created, and the greatest chance for peace comes from a society respectful of individual liberty." - Congressman Ron Paul

[movingman64]

11:08 AM on 12/05/2011

Yes it will help them as now Uncle Remus will go back to the plantation and help out Brer rabbit!

[WarriorLemming]

07:50 AM on 12/05/2011

The 'ol trickle down theory in action, heh?

[lcgjjg]

07:40 AM on 12/05/2011

Ya'll keep jabber jawing and as Forest Gump said " Stupid is as Stupid Does"

[Peace Warrior]

06:16 AM on 12/05/2011

An opportunity to win Iowa, Ron Paul has. A distraction from Paul is Bachmann. In the service of the banking clan she is.

[lcgjjg]

07:43 AM on 12/05/2011

Shame that the leader in the Poll's that has done nothing as he did in Illinois is the goofball we have there now !

[Wanda Diaz]

06:12 AM on 12/05/2011

Let's privatize some of the agencies out there not doing well, such as; Department of Education, USPS and IRS. Then, legalize drugs and take responsibilities for our own actions, that will bring money to our pockets. The government should not be our own babysitter, they should be there to protect us once we get out of control. We need to get out of our comfort zone and think outside the box, to do that we need to send a message to Congress. To the Occupy Wall Street counterparts and supporters, those who are puting themselves in the line for me and you-the voice of the blue collar community-the 99% I know that some of you are clueless, criticizing them but they are taking the heat for all of us-the blue collar community, be nice to them. Vote for,

~Dr. Ron Paul 2012

[wakohnen]

05:54 AM on 12/05/2011

Sad thing is he just "suspended" his campaign. I guess he needs time to "hide" all of the campaign contributions so he doesn't have to pay them back.

[Artist E Hall]

05:27 AM on 12/05/2011

This is how Republicans fight, they kill you with suspicion, rumors and gossip. They can't prove anything but it's a smear campaign. This is how rich people fight. Misinformation to color a character or reputation. It's a sad commentary on our leaders when they resort to dirty tricks to force people out of competing fairly. That's why contractors for the Defense Department get supplies that don't work, because contracts are given to friends of friends rather than the people who have the best supplies. This bad form of management must end if America is to survive and compete on a national basis.

[Wanda Diaz]

06:13 AM on 12/05/2011

~Dr. Ron Paul 2012

[tklinecrew]

09:50 AM on 12/05/2011

That's how ALL politicians fight..... either side of the aisle...

[kennlrs]

05:02 AM on 12/05/2011

For all we know, Cain dropping out of the presidential race could mean that his supporters might shift their votes to Mormon American presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Mitt needs help because this is his second attempt to get elected president (2008 and 2011). Mitt's Mormon father Michigan governor George Romney also ran for president but lost. The first Mormon leader Joseph Smith (1805-1844) ran for American president on the Independent Party ticket back in 1844 but lost out because an armed mob painted black broke into the locked jail in Carthage, Illinois, on June 27, 1844, and shot both Joseph and his brother Hyrum dead.

[Wanda Diaz]

06:18 AM on 12/05/2011

kennlrs, thanks for sharing the story and it is quite interesting. My personal opinion is that is you believe that Jesus came from the planet Kolob, I cannot trust you and to me Mitt Romney is way too ignorant to be our president when we have proof that Jesus came from Jerusalem. Planet Kolob, really? Read below...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolob

[kennlrs]

10:53 AM on 12/05/2011

One reader referred to the planet Kolob of the Mormons and to the Bible describing Christ's birth in Bethelehem just south of Jerusalem in Israel. However, the Bible also describes in St. Matthew 2:9 how the wise men saw the "star" in the sky in the east that went before them across the level lands to hover over Jerusalem. When the wise men met with King Herod in Jerusalem and came out outside, the "star" made a near 90-degree turn in the sky and moved south four miles to Bethlehem where Christ was born circa AD 0. Clearly, the "star of Bethlehem" was an intelligently-guided object of some sort that flew through the sky, made a 90-degree turn at Jerusalem, and moved four miles south to Bethlehem. So Kolob is not so far-fetched when you read about the flight patterns of the "star" of Bethlehem.

[lotus88]

04:53 AM on 12/05/2011

well, let wait until the "lady sings"......