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herman cain-85Herman Cain was news everywhere this week, even in China where I spent a day and a half on a business trip.
Everyone I talked with wanted to know why Cain was in so much trouble over his marital conduct.
"What does that have to do with his qualifications for being president?" the ever-pragmatic businessmen of Beijing wanted to know.
I tried to explain that Republicans are big family-values people and that getting caught for having what appeared to be a 13-year-long affair was hypocrisy.
"Well didn't your President Clinton have a similar problem?" they asked.
Yes, I said, but Clinton was a Democrat and his affairs never last 13 years, in fact they rarely lasted over 13 minutes.
I have to say that Beijing never ceases to amaze me. The airport is one of the biggest in the world. The hotels are some of the best in the world. The traffic is some of the worst.
And smack dab in the middle of it all is the biggest U.S. Embassy I've ever seen. I'm sure the cost of building the embassy has been declared "top secret," because the price must have really been off the charts.
While the rest of the political world focused on Herman Cain suspending his campaign, former Utah governor Jon Huntsman’s said he’ll press on in hopes of earning the Republican Party’s nominee for president.
Huntsman was at Rogers BBQ on Second Loop Road in Florence for a brief visit Saturday. The former U.S. ambassador to China was with his wife, Mary Kaye, and former S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster. The three greeted restaurant patrons before the candidate made brief remarks and answered questions from supporters.
When asked about Cain suspending his campaign and his inevitable departure from the race, Huntsman was cordial but did not comment on whether he thought the businessman’s exit could bolster his own support.
“I’ve enjoyed getting to know Herman, he’s a good man,” Huntsman said. “He was a great candidate and he brought a lot of ideas and energy to the race. I wish him well and I wish his family well.”
Huntsman wasn’t the only presidential candidate to compliment Cain on ideas expressed during the race. Gov. Mitt Romney, who battled Cain atop the polls until accusations of sexual harassment and alleged affairs began to swirl, addressed his now former opponent in a tweet shortly after the announcement.
“Herman's campaign was one of ideas,” Romney said. “His decision was based on what is best for him and his family. We wish Herman and Gloria the best.”
Cain’s departure will prove significant as primary contests move forward, especially for both Huntsman and Romney. While a majority of the candidates have concentrated their efforts on Iowa and the Jan. 3 caucuses there, Huntsman decided early on to bypass the caucus and concentrate nearly exclusively on the New Hampshire primary on Jan. 10 and Romney’s presence in the caucus has been minimal.
While Huntsman told supporters Saturday he had moved up to third in the polls in New Hampshire, Real Clear Politics average has the governor polling no better than fourth behind Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul respectively.
While Cain himself was already polling behind Huntsman in New Hampshire, support for the former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza will disperse to the other candidates and Huntsman needs a bump in the polls if his campaign is to attract support heading into South Carolina on Jan. 21.
“When people look at my record, they will see that I was a conservative governor and my track record would exceed, perhaps, the others in the race in terms of the conservative polices that I’ve implemented,” Huntsman said.
Beyond the primary, the former ambassador to China expressed confidence that if he secured the nomination he would have the ability to garner the support of independents and even some Democrats with his track record on foreign policy, the economy and leadership.
“If we’re not smart enough to bring independents into the fold too, we’re not going to win,” he said. “You’ve got to make sure the math works and so you’ve got to cross boundaries, which we are uniquely able to do.”
