WASHINGTON -- Herman Cain was quizzed on health care, campaign politics and tax policy by home-state legislators and Republican Party heavyweights Wednesday as he made the rounds on Capitol Hill.
The sexual harassment allegations from the 1990s that have dogged Cain's week in Washington, meanwhile, hardly came up and were quickly brushed away, according to lawmakers who participated in closed-door meetings.
"It was something that he brought up right off the bat and said this is typical politics, and when others are unable to get to the top they like to tear others down," said Rep. Tom Graves, R-Ga., who organized a meet-and-greet with Cain and several dozen House members.
The members did not press him, Graves said: "All the allegations were not of concern."
The Washington newspaper Politico reported Sunday that two women were paid settlements by the National Restaurant Association after accusing Cain of sexual harassment while he was president of the organization. Cain acknowledged at least one settlement but said he did nothing wrong. As the scrutiny increased, he pressed on with a full slate of events focused on building ties in Washington.
Cain reportedly met individually with Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., a kingmaker in the key early primary state, and Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., the budget guru who was frequently discussed as a presidential candidate himself before he declined a run. He also met Wednesday with all eight of Georgia's House Republicans, and he dined Tuesday night with 11 GOP senators in an event organized by Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga.
Chambliss said Cain quipped that his name recognition is now 102 percent because of the harassment allegations, and asked about Senate procedure.
"I think they were all fairly impressed with him," Chambliss said, adding that he is not offering an endorsement while there are still two Georgians in the race -- Cain and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
In fact, no member of Congress has endorsed Cain, and though he told members he would appreciate support, he was not aggressively seeking it.
"He wasn't trying to pressure anybody, wasn’t trying to harp on the fact that our moms and dads all went to school together," said Rep. Rob Woodall, R-Ga. "He was making his pitch, talking about how America needs a leader and how he believes he is that leader."
Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Ga., who can call Cain a constituent, said the Georgia delegation meeting was more of a familiar chat.
"We’ve all been on his radio show at one time or another, so it was basically just kind of a, ‘Hey, whatcha doing?' kind of deal that you would [have] with any friend," Westmoreland said.
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