In debates and on the campaign trail, Herman Cain touts his extensive business experience as his main qualification to be president. So when a recent New York Times article raised questions about his management ability, describing his campaign as chaotic and disorganized, the former pizza magnate took it personally.
"They don't know what they are talking about," he said, in an interview with Fox Business. "They are trying to draw a conclusion based on anecdotal information from disgruntled employees."
Cain took particular umbrage at the allegation that staff traveling in a car with him had been ordered not to talk to him.
From the New York Times:
And then there was that e-mail to the staff about traveling in a car with Mr. Cain: "Do not speak to him unless you are spoken to," the memo said.
"I found it odd," said a former staff member who liked to prep Mr. Cain for appearances while driving. The aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, quit not long afterward, citing the e-mail as one of the deciding factors.
Cain called the claim 'ridiculous.' "That's bullfeathers," he said. "I've always had an open door policy in everything I've done. How could I have succeeded over 40 years in business trying to muzzle people?"
He described his organization as solid and explained any turnover of staff as a normal part of campaigns. "Doesn't seem as though those people who left have slowed us down," he said, "in fact our momentum has picked up dramatically."
He also told Fox he considers himself a frontrunner for the nomination. "I would say I am one of the frontrunners because as you know if you are within three or four or five points, that can change next week. I don't see myself as a clear frontrunner, because I don't have a double digit lead, but I would say I am right up there."