Herman Cain Endorses Newt Gingrich Ahead Of 2012 Florida Republican Primary

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Former presidential hopeful Herman Cain threw his support behind Newt Gingrich Saturday night, providing the former House speaker with a late boost just days before Florida's primary.

Cain, a tea party favorite, endorsed his fellow Georgian at a GOP fundraiser Saturday calling him "a patriot."

"Speaker Gingrich is not afraid of bold ideas," Cain said.

The former pizza executive, who left the race before the first nominating contests after facing accusations of unwanted sexual advances, suggested the two have both undergone intense scrutiny.

"I know that Speaker Gingrich is running for president and going through this sausage grinder," Cain said. "I know what this sausage grinder is all about."

Cain is set to campaign with Gingrich on Monday in an 11th hour push for support. Gingrich is in a fierce fight for Tuesday's Florida's GOP primary with Mitt Romney.

Gingrich on Saturday night said that, like Cain, he is running a campaign based on big ideas and bold solutions.

The decision was not unexpected but the announcement comes at a make or break moment. .

"I had it in my heart and mind a long time ago," Cain said.

The timing is similar to a Saturday night surprise four years ago, when then-Florida Gov. Charlie Crist endorsed John McCain's presidential bid.

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry also endorsed Gingrich when he bowed out of the race in South Carolina.

Since exiting the race in December, Cain appeared at a rally in South Carolina with late-night comedian Stephen Colbert.

Cain, the charismatic former head of Godfather's Pizza, briefly led in the polls in the fall. He became known for his signature 9-9-9 tax overhaul plan that would have scrapped the current tax code and replaced it with a 9 percent tax on individual income and corporate taxes as well as a new 9 percent national sales tax.

But his support plummeted after accusations that he sexually harassed women more than a decade ago when he led the National Restaurant Association. An Atlanta-area woman then stepped forward and said she had a lengthy sexual affair with Cain.

He denied the affair and any wrongdoing but withdrew from the race saying the accusations had become distracting and he needed to focus on his family.

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Comments

[carolo]

11:53 PM on 01/29/2012

Cain endorses Gingrich? Wow. That's almost as great as getting an endorsement from Anthony Weirner. (Or Sarah Palin.)

[Michael D OBrien]

11:29 PM on 01/29/2012

This guy's campaign is headed for 'lifesupport'[regardless of his 'chin up act'] and NOW.
the 'kiss of death!'
BTW, coincidentally, right after endorsing elNewtce' Herman became 'part pf the Newtty Team!'
Tax adviser! I guess it will be known as the 'nien, nien, nien office!'
As me 'sainted mother' always said,'Misery loves company!'

[James MD]

09:45 PM on 01/29/2012

Romney is very capable of taking himself down. Watch the video "Blood Money" Romney committing fraud against Medicare in MASS. Romney's company got caught defrauding Medicareand was fined for millions of dollars, its very telling and I just happen to have the link right here. Not sure who paid for it; but its almost as shocking as Romney admitting to Baptizing dead people by proxy, all as Mormons and documenting it. Thousands of Jews, Holocaust victims, even Jesus Christ, Elvis Presley and the 9/11 Hijackers, dead Catholic Popes. Over 200,000 people they have Baptized without anyones consent, Public record, its a very creepy story. Here are the 2 links to both story's. Hold on tight, its a scary ride.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/25/mormon-church-mitt-romney_n_1229322.html
http://www.mittsbloodmoney.com/utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=medium_rectangle&utm_campaign=mitts_blood_money

[artfishtales]

01:51 PM on 01/29/2012

well you know that number two spot is a good piece of politicial cheese to dangle out there for all to snear.the ways and means of power hungry politicians.

[Bombadillo22]

05:16 AM on 01/29/2012

"Cain, a tea party favorite, endorsed his fellow Georgian at a GOP fundraiser Saturday calling him "a patriot."

The kiss of doom. Not that we didn't already no Gingrich was the worst possible choice for president.

[jokamachi]

02:28 AM on 01/29/2012

That should have been Santorum up on that stage endorsing Newt. Oh well, that'll come later. Looks like Romney gets Florida.

[James MD]

09:27 PM on 01/29/2012

I spend a lot of winter months in FL and I have seen nothing but commercials attacking Newt, in the last 3 weeks. Only tonight did I see a commercial, about Romney committing fraud against Medicare in MASS., called "Blood Money" coming soon? Romney got caught defrauding Medicare. "Blood Money", its very telling and I just happen to have the link right here. Not sure who paid for it; but its almost as crazy as Romney admitting to Baptizing the dead by proxy, all as Mormons and documenting it. Thousands of Jews, Holocaust victims, as well as Jesus Christ and the 9/11 Hijackers, dead Catholic Popes. Here is that link to.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/25/mormon-church-mitt-romney_n_1229322.html
http://www.mittsbloodmoney.com/utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=medium_rectangle&utm_campaign=mitts_blood_money

[Michael D OBrien]

11:45 PM on 01/29/2012

'Looks like Romney gets Florida.'
Maybe from within that 'Republican vacuum.'
But from out here, in the 'rest of America,' it doesn't appear that ANY of these 'candidates'
'GETS' anything!

[louiseknows]

01:38 AM on 01/29/2012

Of course he would. From one morally corrupt PUB to another.

[PatriotForever]

01:35 AM on 01/29/2012

Poor Newt,that's all he needs. He was yelling to Cain,9,9,9. And Herman said Ja,Ja,Ja Herr Hauptmann.

[censeo]

12:00 AM on 01/29/2012

Herman wants the pizza franchise on Newt's Moon colony.

[Michael D OBrien]

11:48 PM on 01/29/2012

And a couple of Newt's and Herman's staffers can be bouncers at the 'Lunar Bunny Ranch!'

[Kevin byDesign]

11:31 PM on 01/28/2012

Relax #GOP #Teaparty & #Fundamentalist. Cheating is genetic. Catholic #NewtGingrich & Baptist #HermanCain are only doing what's natural...Not like all those gay people who choose to be gay & bad. #sarcasm

[Ruth1966]

11:12 PM on 01/28/2012

A philanderer endorsing a philanderer. Birds of a feather stick together.
Glad it all came out before we select a nominee.

women are going to sink Gingrich. Thanks, Herman for reminding
us.

[tjamman]

10:36 PM on 01/28/2012

What a HOOT!

Pimp Daddy Cain, endorsing Wife Slinging Pewt!

Does he really even WANT his endorsement?

[tobo]

10:06 PM on 01/28/2012

It's a frightening thought that this man could have moral power over certain people. I mean, this man is a clown, why oh why would you take him serious?

[concentric1]

10:02 PM on 01/28/2012

One fool endorsing another fool!