Image source: The New York Times
BY ZACH TOOMBS
One month ago, he was at the top of many Republican presidential polls. But Saturday, facing six accusations of sexual impropriety, Herman Cain quote, “suspended,” his campaign -- effectively ending it.
FOX News has Cain’s announcement, made from his Georgia headquarters.
“So, as of today, with a lot of prayer and soul searching... I am suspending my presidential campaign... I am suspending my presidential campaign because of the continued distraction, the continued hurt caused on me and my family.”
The suspension means Cain can still raise and spend campaign funds but will no longer seek the Republican nomination. But the tone of Cain’s announcement seemed anything but defeated, as the former Godfather’s Pizza CEO stuck by his claim that allegations of sexual harassment made against him were false and manufactured by the media.
Cain also announced the beginning of a campaign of a different sort — a website called thecainsolutions.com to serve as a platform for his campaign’s biggest ideas, including his 9-9-9 tax plan.
“I am not going to be silenced, and I am not going away.”
“One of the reasons that I ran for president of the United States was such that I could change Washington, D.C. from the inside. Plan B is that we’re going to have to change it from the outside.”
Minutes after Cain’s announcement, a panel on CNN weighed in, agreeing that withdrawing from the GOP race was the now-former candidate’s best option.
JOE JOHNS: “He was distracting from the message of the other Republicans who were in the field, he was running out of money, his poll numbers were going down. There was simply no choice.”
RON BONJEAN: “I think it’s a good idea that he’s suspended his campaign. I think there’s a sigh of relief among the Republican ranks that those candidates will now be able to get their message out without this sideshow distraction.”
And looking ahead on MSNBC, Chris Hayes discussed how Cain’s departure could reshape the GOP race.
“It’s always been the case that this field was going to drastically narrow. I think we’re going to see the process accelerates as you start getting actual returns a month from now in Iowa and into New Hampshire. And ultimately my sense is that Gingrich, Romney and possibly Huntsman are going to be really viable down the stretch.”
Cain closed his speech acknowledging he would endorse one of his rivals, and with Newt Gingrich and Michele Bachmann already reaching out with statements in support of the now-former candidate, an effort to scoop up his remaining supporters looks to be underway.
