Herman Cain to announce "next steps" on Saturday

Herman Cain "will be making an announcement" in Atlanta tomorrow to "clarify what the next steps are," he said at a town hall in South Carolina Friday afternoon.

The former Godfather's Pizza CEO declined to elaborate on what that announcement might be, insisiting that "nobody's going to get me to make that announcement prematurely."

The comment comes amid increasing speculation that Cain will drop his bid for the White House in the wake of a series of sexual harassment allegations as well as claims of a 13-year extramarital affair that have helped torpedo his standing in the polls.

A senior adviser to the campaign tells CBS News and  National Journal that Cain simply plans to announce the opening of a campaign office in Georgia.

But that seems to both contradict Cain's promises of an announcement to "clarify" his next steps and his timetable for making a decision. Cain will meet with his wife in person later today - for the first time since the affair charge surfaced - to help decide whether to press on with his campaign. He said Thursday night that he will make a decision by Monday.

The Washington Post, citing sources close to Cain's campaign, reported Friday that Cain has invited his top donors and backers to Atlanta Saturday morning to "give them advance word of whether he intends to continue his campaign."

(At left, CBS News political analyst John Dickerson, Washington Post's Nia-Malika Henderson, National Journal's Reid Wilson and Real Clear Politics' Scott Conroy discuss if Cain is getting out of the race and who gets his votes if he does.)

One person who plans to attend the event said he expects Cain to end his candidacy, though another speculated that he would just express gratitude for his backers' continued support. Cain is expected to hold a news conference following the meeting.

Cain's campaign unveiled a new "Women for Cain" website Friday chaired by Cain's wife Gloria featuring testimonials from women who support the candidate. The site does not include an image of Gloria Cain or a personal appeal from her directly.

"Women for Cain" back embattled candidate

Cain, who has strongly denied the charges against him, said Tuesday he was reassessing his candidacy in the wake of the affair allegations. He has said that his "wife and family comes first," adding: "I got to take that into consideration."

A new poll from the Des Moines Register shows that his support has fallen to 8 percent in Iowa, down from 23 percent in late October.

With reporting by Lindsey Boerma.

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[Faithfulwatcher]

Let's not forget that Cain is an ordained Baptist Minister. "But now I am writing you to quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator....not even eating with such a man....Remove the wicked man from among yourselves." 1st Corinthians 5:11-13.

[michaelz06]

Geez, no one needs to quote Biblical passages to arrive at the conclusion that he shouldn't have been doing what he apparently was....

[Faithfulwatcher]

"No single witness should rise up against a man respecting any error or any sin,in the case of any sin that he may commit. At the mouth of two witnesses or at the mouth of three witnesses, the matter should stand good." Deuteronomy 19:15. CAIN has had FIVE.

[baileyccc]

I am sure the announcement is that he is retiring from politics and he is going into golf to become the next Tiger Woods.

[RobAla]

Herman Cane will probably drop out. What I find interesting is the lack of coverage regarding what President Obama is doing (or not doing). When the unemployment rate dropped to 8.6% (primarily due to the tempt jobs always associated with the Thanksgiving/Christmas seasons), President Obama was quick to claim that his hard work had a lot to do with it.

I don't see "his hard work" having much to do with helping much in the United States. Below is an example of his "hard work" (his 12/02/11 Friday schedule):

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- President Obama tours a building project in Washington and addresses the White House Tribal Nations Conference Friday, the White House said.

The daily schedule indicates Obama will:

-- Receive the daily briefing.

-- Tour the 815 Connecticut Ave. NW building and speak.

-- Meet with senior advisers.

-- Speak at the White House Tribal Nations Conference at the Department of the Interior.

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/12/02/Obamas-schedule-for-Friday-Dec-2/UPI-54611322825562/#ixzz1fU0hiazR

You can always find President Obama's daily schedule on the internet. I don't see much of anything regarding "hard work" for US jobs.

[retm-w]

What's your schedule for today rob, sitting in front of your computer bashing the POTUS, with your hate Obama posts. It's doubtful you ever put in a days work.

[msay3]

I'm with you, Rob...for everyone else,

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[myopinionpal]

Cain's next step should be to get on his knees and ask God to forgive him and while he's down there beg his wife not to leave him and take half his money.

[nancy_naive]

Herman Cain's next step? That's easy. Stroking a check for 1/2 of everything he has.

[Nikos_Retsos]

Cain's "next steps" upcoming announcement won't really be about how he would move on, but how he will make a "U-Turn" and bow out with a "face saving" pretext. Rather than saying: "I am a rascal, and you gotcha me! I am getting the hell out of here," he would probably say: "I have been attacked with false allegations that have distorted the focus of my campaign and maligned my character and integrity unfairly. I suspend or quit this campaign to spare myself and my family from this witch-hunt! I leave with my head high because I love this country and I don't want to be a distraction in this campaign!

Would America buy this exit excuse from a rogue wife cheater and a willy former executive who offered jobs to needy unemployed women if they took a detour through his bedroom? I won't believe anything Cain will claim on his campaign termination. The facts are clear: His campaign and his character are on tatters; he has become the subject of scorn and ridicule, and he sees the need to save the scraps of his tarnished reputation by getting out of the spotlight! Nikos Retsos, retired professor

[democracy8]

You hit the nail right on its head.

[omnibus66]

Whether or not he quits is irrelevant. He's not going to be the Republican nominee. He got into this to make money, and probably has done well up to now. If the money dries up, he will quit.

Politics is not about altruism or serving, it is about greed and dollars. Get rid of lobbyists and install term limits and then we might actually get some honest people to serve.

[nancy_naive]

Hope it covers the alimony...

[signseeker1717]

Some news reports this morning have indicated the Cain campaign is in debt. He may have to stay in JUST to pay it off!

[sjj1222]

The circus goes on and on and on. More than ever, as I look at the sorry set of Republican "rivals" on the other side, I am THANKFUL to have Barack Obama as President, and as a viable candidate for re-election. Mr. Obama: your heart, your values, and your basic decency are all in the right place. But...your hands are tied. Unfortunately they were tied by us, the electorate.....when we failed to provide you with a Congress that you can work with. Instead, you are saddled with a don't-tax-the-1%-do-nothing Congress that battles you at every turn, while the people suffer.?God, they don't EVEN let you pass your own appointments. It's not Tea-publican gridlock - it's Tea-publican sabotage. it's Tea-publican treason....while the 99% BLEEDS. And then they try to pin the blame on Mr. Obama. These people have no shame...or else its been purchased by those who can afford to do so. Grandma gets her meager Social Security check, and they call it "socialism". Give me a break! (and Grandma too!) Thankfully, with Occupy Wall Street, America has found its voice: a voice that reminds us that people -ordinary working people- really DO matter. Not "corporations are people-people" , but REAL people! Tea-publicans want even more tax-break-corporate-welfare-loopholes....while companies send our jobs overseas, and wish that we'd go away too, as they buy every politician in sight. They talk about "welfare queens", but hey, if these guys don't have enough mistresses, I can hook them up with a few gorgeous -and rich!- oil companies. It would be a perfect blind date, except for the fact that they're ALREADY in bed with them :-). But instead of talking about less government , and more corporate welfare, and more painful cuts to those who can LEAST afford it..., Occupy is a voice that demands a government that WORKS, a government that works FOR ALL OF US, not just for a favored few,...not just for the rich. It's a voice that comes up from the grassroots, and lifts us up in turn: because it insists that this land IS our land...and that we WANT IT BACK! And most importantly, it's a voice that will help us re-elect the President AND give him a more progressive Congress to work with. Mr. Obama: I wish you well. You STILL give us hope.

[michaelz06]

I suppose you believe in the tooth fairy too....

[baileyccc]

It is the "Greatest Show on Earth"........Cain needs to pick up Tiger Woods as his running mate and then they could really score big with young white women.

[elmgreen11]

Good riddance to bad rubbish. Cain's poor grammar is painful.