10:03 a.m. - In the media scrum that followed Cain’s speech, he was asked if he was dropping out of the race. Cain confirmed to the media that he is “reassessing” his campaign in the wake of a fresh allegation that he engaged in a 13-year-long extramarital affair, according to the National Review. All Cain said this morning, however, was that he was “reassessing” and “reevaluating.” A few fans near the back of the room, cheered “stay in the race” at the same time.
9:52 a.m. – Herman Cain addresses allegations – “attacks”:
“As you know, I have already been attacked, not because I have bad ideas because the ideas are solid,” Cain said. “They are attacking my character, my reputation and my name in order to try and bring me down. But you see, I don’t believe that America is going to let that happen.”
“I happen to believe that, we the people, are still in charge of this country. I happen to believe that we the people, you the people, know that you want something different in the White House because we don’t have leadership in the White House.”
9:44 a.m. - Herman Cain hasn’t addressed his latest allegation – that he engaged in a 13-year-long extramarital affair, according to the National Review – in his speech at the Marriott in West Chester. He has talked about domestic threats, foreign policy and his “9-9-9″ tax plan.
8:48 a.m. - Less than 15 minutes until Herman Cain is expected to speak at the Cincinnati Marriott North in West Chester. The room is starting to fill up. After speaking with Cain supporters, I am getting the sense they not thinking ahead of whom they might support if he backs out of the presidential race. They still believe he is the man for the job.
8:35 a.m. – Comments from Cain supporters:
“I think he is being attacked because he is the only candidate that has really proposed a way to change the existing establishment and I think he is perceived to be a real threat,” said Jim Stansbury of Louisville, Ky. “I believe these are cooked up charges. If you look at the women who have come forward, they all have exactly the same baggage and they are not as believable as Herman Cain.
“I am irritated by it all and it makes our work harder, but I think we all knew that was going to happen at some point.
“I have total confidence in Herman and I have total confidence in the staff. I believe, in the end, it will come out just fine.”
Paulette Leeper of Loveland (City Council member):
“I am not looking that far ahead,” said Leeper on who she will back if Cain drops out of the race. “That is why I am here. I think he is the right guy.”
Steve Jackson of Loveland:
“It is the media,” said Jackson why he doesn’t believe the allegations against Cain. “I don’t blame the media, but it is there – trumped up. The potential for it being false is extremely high.
“Whoever gets the nomination is going to be – just bombarded all year. He was doing really well and that is when it started.
“Our fearless leader has a billion dollars to spend on whatever he wants – to smear whoever.”
7:59 a.m. - The Herman Cain bus is here. Still no sign of Cain or staff members, but the bus is running. Assuming they are in there “reassessing” if they want to come in (attempt at a joke). Cain is scheduled to speak at the Marriott in West Chester at 9 a.m.
7:43 a.m. - There are only 116 seats set up in West Chester IV, a banquet room at the Cincinnati Marriott North in West Chester. Wondering if that will be enough for an event that is open to the public. Herman Cain is expected to speak at 9 a.m.
7:30 a.m. - Media members are starting to file into the Cincinnati Marriott North at 6189 Muhlhauser Road in West Chester. Marriott employees are deflecting questions regarding media set up to Cain staff members, who have yet to show. Luckily, media types don’t need much direction and are plugging in where they can. The secret service, however, may end up moving many of the journalists, which includes four Enquirer Media staff members, every local news station and several national media outlets.
Herman Cain information leading up to day of West Chester visit
Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain’s scheduled appearance in West Chester Wednesday morning could be among the final campaign stops for the embattled businessman.
Cain told senior members of his campaign Tuesday that he is “reassessing” his campaign in the wake of a fresh allegation that he engaged in a 13-year-long extramarital affair, according to the National Review.
His final decision will be made “over the next several days,” Cain told staffers.
On Tuesday night, Cain didn’t address the recent allegation in his speech at Hillsdale College in Michigan.
During the speech, his staff posted a message to Twitter: “we said, Team HC: The definition of reassess is: To consider again, esp. while paying attention to new factors. Doesn’t sound like dropping out…”
According to a report from the Des Moines Register Tuesday, Cain told his national campaign staff that he needs to decide whether an accusation of a 13-year affair with an Atlanta woman will create “too much of a cloud” for his supporters.
“If a decision is made, different than (we) should plow ahead, you all will be the first to know,” he said to 94 people on a conference call at 10:15 a.m. Central.
Below is a portion of a report from the Des Moines Register:
On Monday, Atlanta’s Fox 5 TV station broke the news that Atlanta businesswoman Ginger White claims she and the Republican presidential hopeful had an extramarital affair that lasted until just before Cain announced his bid for the White House on May 21.
During the six-minute call this morning, Cain, a retired restaurant executive, denied the accusation, and reminded his staff that it’s not the first time he has reassessed his candidacy.
“Now with this latest one, we have to do an assessment as to whether or not this is going to create too much of a cloud in some people’s minds as to whether or not they should support us going forward,” he said, in a calm, matter-of-fact voice.
The Des Moines Register was invited to join the conference call to listen to Cain’s comments about “the recent firestorm,” as he called it.
Cain told his staff that, first of all, he wanted to tell them directly that he denies the charges. He also wanted them to know he had a friendship with White – who is financially needy, he said.
“I have known this lady for a number of years,” he said, without naming her. “And thirdly, I had been attempting to help her financially because she was out of work and destitute, desperate. I have helped many friends. I know now that she wasn’t the friend that I thought she was. But it was just a friendship relationship.”
Posted in: Election, Events, Government, News, Political events |
