Herman Cain doesn't think Rush Limbaugh calling Sandra Fluke a "slut" will negatively impact the Republican party in the 2012 elections.
"No, I don't think [his comments] hurt the party because Rush Limbaugh is not running for anything, so I don't think they hurt the party at all," Cain told MSNBC at a campaign stop for Newt Gingrich in Oklahoma.
The scandal began Feb. 29, when Limbaugh called Fluke, the woman who was denied the opportunity to testify before a congressional hearing on birth control, a "slut" and a "prostitute" for saying that birth control pills should be covered by insurance.
"She wants to be paid to have sex. She's having so much sex she can't afford the contraception. She wants you and me and the taxpayers to pay her to have sex," Limbaugh said.
The conservative radio host did apologize to Fluke on his website and Facebook page Saturday. The post stated that: "My choice of words was not the best, and in the attempt to be humorous, I created a national stir. I sincerely apologize to Ms. Fluke for the insulting word choices."
But Fluke dismissed Limbaugh's apology on ABC's "The View," saying she thinks he only apologized because of pressure from his advertisers, who are severing ties with his show in increasing numbers.
Cain weighed in on the sponsorship issue as well. In addition to being the former chief execuvtive of Godfather's pizza, he also spent several years as a radio host.
"They would have to make that call," Cain said of Limbaugh's sponsors. "I just know that advertisers make their decisions about who they want to support and not support, but I don't think it's going to hurt the Rush Limbaugh show."