On Saturday night, Georgia businessman and erstwhile presidential candidate Herman Cain threw his support behind Newt Gingrich.
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.
After the story broke late Saturday, there seemed to be a mixed reaction on Twitter. Cain, after all, had already given us the nod, pledging to support “the people” for president before the South Carolina primary. Clearly, the former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza was withdrawing his endorsement.
Nonetheless, after Mitt Romney’s devastating attack ad and resurgence in the polls, Cain’s decision to throw his weight – and name – behind Newt Gingrich is smart politics. Citizen Cain, of course, is immensely popular among Tea Party conservatives (he was once the Republican frontrunner!), and his announcement last night could make the election in Florida more competitive. Though I personally think the latest PPP survey indicates that Newt is waging an uphill battle, Herman Cain’s much-coveted endorsement could give the former House Speaker some newfound momentum.
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