Herman Cain endorsed Newt Gingrich for president tonight, a surprise reversal from the former candidate’s indication that he would not pick a primary candidate.
The two men share Georgia ties and have known each other for years, but Cain hinted that Gingrich’s recent struggles – many Republican establishment figures have ganged up against Gingrich this week – played a role in his choice.
“Speaker Gingrich is a patriot,” Cain, a Stockbridge businessman, said as he introduced Gingrich at a Republican dinner in West Palm Beach, Fla.
“Speaker Gingrich is not afraid of bold ideas. And I also know that Speaker Gingrich is running for president and going through this sausage grinder. I know what this sausage grinder is all about. I know that he’s going through this sausage grinder because he cares about the future of the United States of America.”
Cain at one point led in national polls for the nomination, boosted by charisma, his outside-the-Beltway background and a bold 9-9-9 tax code overhaul. But his campaign derailed at allegations of sexual misconduct that Cain continues to deny but said the media scrutiny was too taxing on his family and he dropped out in December.
In South Carolina last week Cain announced his “unconventional endorsement” was “the American people.” In an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution this month he said to endorse one candidate could fracture his fanbase and hurt his chief cause – touring the country to build support for a flat 9 percent income tax, 9 percent corporate tax and 9 percent national sales tax.
Gingrich said he has asked Cain to "co-chair a commission on jobs, economic growth and taxes" to help develop his new Contract With America, to be unveiled in the fall if he wins the GOP nomination. After Texas Gov. Rick Perry dropped out and endorsed Gingrich, the former U.S. House Speaker from Georgia asked Perry to head up a 10th amendment commission.
Gingrich said by doing so he knows that Cain will “put 9-9-9 on the table,” for the commission, but Gingrich did not back the plan. His tax plan calls for a 15 percent flat income tax.
“He’s going to provide real leadership,” Gingrich said. “This is a real job creator who has actually managed a company and has real knowledge of how to do it, so I thank you, Herman, for being here.”
Florida's GOP primary is Tuesday, and recent polls show Gingrich trailing former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the Sunshine State.
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