Herman Cain to join Gingrich in Georgia

By Daniel Malloy

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Herman Cain will join Newt Gingrich on the campaign trail in Georgia this weekend.

Enlarge photo

Matt Rourke, AP Herman Cain, left, and Republican presidential candidate former House Speaker Newt Gingrich campaign Monday, Jan. 30, 2012, in Fort Myers, Fla.

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A Gingrich spokeswoman confirmed that Cain, a Stockbridge businessman and former presidential hopeful, will campaign with Gingrich at three appearances Saturday.

Gingrich and Cain are scheduled to appear at a town hall Saturday at South Forsyth County High School in Cumming at 10 a.m., a town hall Collins High School in Suwanee at 11:30 a.m. and a rally at the Marriott Atlanta Northwest near Smyrna at 3 p.m. Gingrich will also hold a rally at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Atlanta Regional Airport in Peachtree City.

The March 6 primary in Georgia looms as a critical contest for Gingrich, who represented a suburban Atlanta district in Congress for two decades including two terms as Speaker of the House.

Georgia has the most Republican convention delegates of any of the 10 states voting on what is known as Super Tuesday, and Republican presidential hopefuls Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum have targeted Georgia as well. Gingrich’s only primary victory thus far has come in South Carolina, and his campaign sees a strong showing in Georgia as vital to regaining momentum in the topsy-turvy nomination contest.

Cain at one point led in national polls for the GOP nomination but his campaign was derailed by a series of allegations of sexual misconduct, and he dropped out of the race in December. He endorsed Gingrich ahead of the Jan. 31 Florida primary and appeared with him twice there.

Cain is planning a nationwide bus tour to promote his 9-9-9 tax plan and other policies. Gingrich is spending most of the week in California, primarily to raise money.