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Subscribe to RSSURBANDALE, IA -- The announcement by former Godfathers Pizza CEO Herman Cain that he is suspending his run for president exactly one month before the Iowa caucuses drew wistful reactions today from top Iowa staffers and volunteers.
"The Cain train has been derailed today," Cain's Iowa Chairman Steve Grubbs told NBC News during an on-camera interview shortly after Cain's announcement, which was delivered from Atlanta, GA.
Grubbs, who joined the campaign right after Cain began his rise in the polls, said he was "disappointed" his candidate dropped out, but noted recent scandals took the presidential hopeful away from his message.
"Boy, what I would have given for a couple of drama-free weeks just to focus on message and organization," Grubbs said.
Cain received weeks of scrutiny over a possible extramarital affair and sexual-harassment allegations against him, though he denied the claims. The most recent allegation -- and, it seems final straw for his campaign -- came two weeks ago, when Ginger White accused the Georgia businessman of engaging in a 13-year affair with her. Cain said the two were merely friends and he helped her financially, although he later revealed to the media he never informed his wife of 43 years, Gloria, that he was helping White.
Neither Grubbs nor other Iowa campaign staff knew what Cain would say when he took the podium at what was billed as an event marking the opening of his Georgia headquarters.
"I'm the Iowa communications director for Iowa, but I know nothing," said Lisa Lockwood, a staffer in Cain's state headquarters here in Urbandale, shortly before the announcement.
Lockwood watched Cain's announcement stream in live on her laptop as a gaggle of reporters looked on.
"I'm surprised, I'm disappointed," Lockwood said afterward, visibly choked up. "I think he's an awesome man, and I think he would have been awesome president."
Outside Lockwood's office, the headquarters had the feel of a campaign abruptly interrupted. Three-thousand yard signs had just been delivered to the office Tuesday night.
State director Larry Tuel said cubicles for phone banks had been installed only days ago.
"I like a fight, and I think Herman Cain does, too," Tuel said. "I wanted to stay in, because I think we could do well in Iowa.
One supporter, Patti Spencer Burdette, said she spent all day Friday delivering signs for the campaign.
"We love him, and he loves us," Burdette said. "Were a family. And there's sadness in the family."
But outside his family of stalwart volunteers, support for Cain has dropped in Iowa since the allegations came to light. A new Des Moines Register Iowa poll shows Herman Cain polling at just 8% among likely caucus-goers. This is down from the 23% of support he received in the Register's October poll.
Iowa GOP Chairman Matt Strawn told NBC News Cain's that withdrawal -- 30 days before the caucuses -- adds yet more uncertainty to a very fluid and crowded race.
"I think there is a huge opportunity for those Herman Cain supporters to find a home behind a candidate or two and give them momentum," Strawn said.
Several caucus-goers inside a restaurant near Cain's headquarters paid tribute to Cain Saturday, but added that during the past several weeks they had settled on a candidate: former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
"He has an intelligent grasp of all the issues, and I perceive he is the most competent to lead this nation back into its prosperity," said James Sandin, a Des Moines resident, of Gingrich.
But Sandin added that he is a strong admirer of Cain. "He portrayed himself as a man of the people. A common man, a business man, not a politician," he said. "He will be missed in the campaign."
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"He has an intelligent grasp of all the issues, and I perceive he is the most competent to lead this nation back into its prosperity," said James Sandin, a Des Moines resident, of Gingrich.
Dear James, do you know that Newt lied when he talked about being a historian for Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac? This should matter to you. He made a great deal of money while thousands of Americans were being exploited.
He can't lead anyone but himself back into prosperity. Please keep that it mind. You may be in for a very big disappoinment again. Choose your candidate wisely. Don't throw your time or money away on someone who may be conning you and America.
I don't even know if Gingrich has any kind of real campaign going on. He just seems to pop up in front of any microphone thrown his way.
Thank goodness the 'herminator' was 'terminated'...
I heard John Hinckley was thinking of making a run, and a lot of low-information voters are getting behind his candidacy because of his affiliation with Reagan. ABO - Ha!
I love it even his own campaign workers are saying the Cain train is derailed...that is almost as good as what the Huntsmann campaign said about the deabate moderated by Trump being the Presidential Apprentice....These guys are saying it before Colbert and Stewart..
Iowa Newspaper Endorses Mitt Romney
Sioux City Journal/Obama Diary
“Through successful, executive decision-making experience in both the private and public sectors, Romney understands economics and fiscal principles in a real-world way. In other words, he’s walked the walk,” the editors write. “In this year’s Republican field, he is the candidate most capable of not only articulating a blueprint for a stronger economy and the restoration of fiscal sanity in Washington, but of assembling a high-caliber team of advisors, forging consensus within Congress and rallying the nation in support of it.”
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It's a false and lazy written endorsement. First of all, Romney's high-caliber team has Rove and GWB's neo-cons. They are why this country almost fell into a depression.
Romney's walking the walk entailed laying off people and pocketing millions.
He is a wimp when it comes to strong interviews as well. He can't compete with President Obama. He hasn't done anything worth bragging about. Quite the contrary actually.
But he will be the nominee. And he will use the neocons' talking points to go after the President. He already is using them. Verbatim.
Poor George Will. His wife works for Rick Perry. He ain't happy these days. LoL.
Oh, Pat--you're throwing out raw meat for the doggies. The puppies are on the prowl tonight, looking for anything to take issue with.
But you can handle them.
I find the phrase "forging consensus within Congress" to be wishful thinking. That is unlikely to happen, which means if Mitt somehow becomes President, he will find himself on the receiving end of charges of "failed leadership."
comfortablynumb, there is a new poll that just came out in Iowa that is up over @ DailyKos, and the #'s are really bad for Mitt. Ron Paul looks good, in second place after Newt. Romney in third.
Newt gained a lot, Romney lost a lot of ground in just a month according to the poll.
I still maintain Newt isn't going to win Iowa or NH. It's just too ridiculous a scenario. Even for the GOP. LoL.
You looked at a poll on the DailyKos? The usual suspects will be calling you a marxist!
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Romney didn't make a strong effort in Iowa until recently, and I won't be surprised if he doesn't do well there. "Religion" will be a big part of that anyway.
With Newt,who knows. I thought he would flame out quickly, but that didn't happen. He is capable of self-destruction at a moments notice, though. He stirs up controversy every time he speaks. I think this is still a continuation of the flavor-of-the-month, with him taking a turn at or near the top.
Cain's exit leaves his supporters looking for someone to turn to, and there is still alot of time.
It's going to be interesting.
Pat - You just don't understand the GOP, do you? They have already chosen their candidate. It doesn't matter what the polls say, or how the caucus turns out. Think back to 08. Everyone was confused because there were several GOP contenders that had a more even grasp of events than McCain, who is a RINO. The GOP had already chosen McCain long before any caucus, any primary... No one else had a chance.
They have already picked who's going up against Obama.
Well Pat, you've got a bite......
Now it's all a set up, within the GOP. All the campaigning, all the hard work, all the money being spent, is for nothing. It's just a show--the "Party" has already chosen the candidate. (Hmmmm--sounds like communism to me.)
If that's the case, I wonder what all the concern is for about liberals bashing the candidates?
There's no concern numb. Actually I get somewhat of a kick out of the liberals flavor of the day. First Read puts up a story about one of the candidates and the liberals latch onto it like rabid wolves. It's actually quite entertaining because no matter who goes up, it gives me a chance to remind the libs that Obama isn't all they think he is. It wouldn't be so much fun if it weren't for the liberals and their wackiness.
If you don't think primaries are cooked, then don't think it. That's your choice. Personally I don't trust any of them. Republican or Democrat.
Brainb, what do you know about Mitt's chances in NH? I'm assuming he's going to take it going away. But now some people think he can lose NH. I find that highly unlikely unless I'm missing something.
comfortablynumb - EXACTLY.
You will start to see articles and endorsements for Mitt Romney and the GOP establishment is going to start their 'mind freak' and subtly start to tell the voters that Mitt is the ONE.
It is already starting with the endorsement in Iowa. When more and more 'journalists' start singing the praises for Romney, you will start to see the numbers start to rise in the polls.
You heard it here first.
One down, six to go.....
Now I'm wondering if that stupid ad that Romney put out about Obama was an arrogant move on their part. It ended up hurting Romney, not Obama. They completely took Obama's words out of context and the ad ended up being a blatant lie. Fortunately the media called him on it.
And then Obama came right back at him with a great ad. Great ad.
So I think both ads hurt Romney tremendously. As they should.
Pat - No, it was Romney's ad people DELIBERATELY putting out the ad with the misleading theme to get the 'buzz' from the media. That ploy was to get Romney's name out there, ahead of Rick Perry's (who made a similar ad).
In that case, the calculus is that ANY publicity - positive or negative - was desirable because it puts Romney's name out there to be talked about... and the ploy worked. Almost every left-wing talk show played the ad, providing the Romney campaign with FREE ADVERTISING, and the media buzz was pretty intense for over a week.
Now that Romney's name is out there, the effect is that it will 'settle' in people's mind, almost like a subliminal message. We are talking about Romney again, even though his campaign has told him to STOP TALKING.
When Romney talks, that is when he starts losing poll points.
The GOP establishment is GOING to sell the Romney name, and the Conservatives will accept it, whether they like it or not.
When Romney talks, that is when he starts losing poll points.
I think you may have nailed it here Pietro. Someone over @ DailyKos just showed a graphic of four states, and Romney is losing ground in all four states, including NH. Newt looks to be strong in Iowa, FLA and SC.
Mitt deserves all this. He wanted to walk into the nomination by doing none of the heavy lifting. His plan was to keep a low profile and do few interviews.
Well now he's going to have to earn it.
All of a sudden he's not quite the easy nominee he thought he was going to be.
Can you imagine? Here he is running for the presidency of the United States and no Sunday morning talk shows?
Wall Street must be unhappy. Mitt is their puppet. I mean their guy.
The guns will be out and aimed right @ Newt shortly. Newt better be prepared. Wonder if he's raising any money? He's gonna need it if he's serious about this campaign.
What is the saying from the movie/TV show "highlander"? "only one can survive"
Regardless of whether Cain re-enters the race or not he has provided the populace with alternatives to standard political rhetoric and ideology.
Newt Gingrich's suggestion about making our children our janitors is just a tiresome, updated rehash of Jonathan Swift's A MODEST PROPOSAL
Newt Gingrich doesn't have the money to put up ads against Mitt, but the Democrats do.
Mitt had better be careful. He needs to fight Newt right now. Cuz if he goes after Obama, Obama is going to come right back with devastating ads which will hurt Mitt big time.
And help Newt.
Typical Ignorant, Loud Mouth, and Mr. Know It All Black Man got him self into a little pickle, with a white girl, and southern conservatives don't like the Half and Half President Obama? Cain would be bigger target than President Obama if you do the math....IDK how those crazies think but Cain sounded more N*****ish than President Obama. Thank You President Obama for not being one sided and ignorant, then again, I do not consider you a N***** because you have never acted like one. Personally, IMO any race or color can be a N***** or an @!$%#.
Another unqualified candidate bites the dust.
DNC only has one unqualified candidate
Come on their a bunch of farmers up there, they have the advantage of not considering another unqualified candidate, and they can vote Bachman who believes in prayer and is against abortion, and gay rights, she wins which means she will not be the GOP choice and its on to New Hampshire.
Good bye "Crazy Cain!" Now you will be able to work full time at the GOP Circus. "Crazy Cain" will sell alot of pizza at the traveling GOP "Carnival Of Clowns." He can park the GOP Elephants when the Tea Beggers show up to watch the GOP "Political Clown" Show. "Crazy Cain" can now move in with the Koch Brothers and he can be their full time Pizza Puker.
Little Shelly is hoping for Cain supporters to jump from the Cain Train the the Bachmann Crazy Train.
Gingrich is the star right now. I wonder if there is any video available of he and Calista doing it in the car when Newt was married to wife #2.