Cain advisers largely standing by candidate

By: Caroline Horn
Topics: Campaign 2012

(Credit: Eric Thayer/Getty Images)

In the hours after Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain told his staff on a conference call that he was "reassessing" his campaign, senior advisers in states across the country were standing by their man - for the most part.

Florida Cain chairman and state representative Scott Plakon takes Cain at his word when he says he did not have a 13-year affair with Atlanta businesswoman Ginger White. But he added he expects the press to investigate the allegations further.

"My opinion is if he did have an affair, he should get out [of the race]," Plakon says.

Plakon was one of a slew of new Cain advisors and staff members announced in Florida last month when the campaign was riding high. Now he says the campaign needs to look at how it is structured.

"Their crisis management could use a little bit of help," Plakon says.

In the crucial early state of Iowa, Cain senior adviser Steve Grubbs put out a full-throated defense of his candidate, according to an email obtained by Politico.

"Both John McCain and Bill Clinton had similarly difficult times in their presidential campaigns," Grubbs wrote in an email to supporters. "They both weathered the storm and emerged to be their parties' nominees."

Arizona state chairman Lori Klein echoed Grubb's support and praised Cain for reaching out to his supporters this morning.

"I think it was very honorable of him to let us know what was going on," Klein said.

Klein, who has known Cain for 12 years, added that he "had never been anything but a gentleman" towards her.

"And I am not an unattractive woman," she said.

William Head, Cain's South Carolina state director, is already looking ahead.

"Mr. Cain is scheduled to be in South Carolina on Friday," Head said in an email.

But for some Cain supporters, this latest allegation proved to be too much.

Two New Hampshire State Representatives, William Panek and Sam Cataldo, said today they were switching their allegiances from Cain to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

"I pretty much just had had enough," Panek told CBS News about White's charges and evidence of the affair. News of his and Cataldo's defections were first reported by WMUR.

Caroline Horn is CBS News' senior producer for politics.
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by 2happy2ride November 30, 2011 2:38 PM EST: His campaign would STILL be in trouble WITHOUT the all the alleged extra marital activities. He simply does not have the experience, knowledge or wisdom to be president. One experiment in a lifetime is ENOUGH.; Reply to this comment


by mjlewis6 November 30, 2011 1:55 PM EST: Altogether, every candidate has a sex organ, OK? It is not what they do with it that needs to hit the front pages or political editorials or gossip columns..

It is what candidates SAY that either gets them the merited attention for votes or the proper disdain for the candidate's hypocrisy. Everything goes since the Republicans FIRST used sexual misconduct and the press against Gary Hart, a leading Democratic Presidential Primary candidate, for his trysts on board the boat, Monkey Business.; Reply to this comment


by ruffiannd November 29, 2011 11:24 PM EST: Of course they're standing by him. Where else are they going to go? They've given him such bad advice, and have handled this campaign so poorly, no one wants them anywhere near.; Reply to this comment

by norcalruss November 29, 2011 10:44 PM EST

I'm not a fan of Herman Cain's, I don't think he has the knowledge to be POTUS, and has a lot of personal issues that don't show respect or good judgment. Still, I kind of feel sorry for him. He had to be extremely naive to think he could run for President and NOT have all of this come out. He probably is now having second thoughts about whether it was a good idea to get into the race and go through all of this. Clinton survived marital infidelity charges (many of them) and Toad Gingrich was married thrice, divorced twice, and cheated on his wife while she was on her death bed. I hope Cain stays in, what does he have to lose?

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by ruffiannd November 29, 2011 11:25 PM EST: Twice. Gingrich cheated twice, on two of his wives.


by Progress4USA November 29, 2011 9:15 PM EST: Of course they are...most of them are in a relationship with him...; Reply to this comment


by italianro November 29, 2011 8:41 PM EST: Herman Cain needs to drop out. I don't care about the other allegations but since this woman has proof. I think it is best for Herman Cain if he drops out. He will probably be getting a gift basket for his effort. This gift basket will probably have a variety of fruit in it, maybe a stuffed animal and a pack of cigarettes, I know if I was in that situation I would need a smoke.; Reply to this comment


by law90807013f November 29, 2011 7:42 PM EST: From the alleging summary of alleging news stories about alleging Cain and alleging women, that is white women screamed he sexually harassed them while he's married to a black woman, possibly dating another, comes the revelation: No blonde for old Cain.; Reply to this comment