Herman Cain helped his brand, says expert

Herman Cain signs a copy of his book on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011, in Milton, Ga.

/ Curtis Compton,AP Photo/Atlanta Journal & Constitution

Herman Cain may have been forced out of the race for president amid accusations of unseemly and inappropriate sexual behavior, but his White House bid and surprising rise in the polls have nonetheless boosted his earning power, a branding expert told Hotsheet.

Rob Frankel, author of "Revenge of Brand X," said the harassment allegations will "go away" and leave Cain with a valuable personal brand.

Cain left the Republican presidential race Saturday in the wake of multiple sexual harassment claims, as well as an allegation of a 13-year extramarital affair.

Herman Cain drops White House bid

Still, the former Godfather's Pizza CEO's presidential run should be considered a clear success, Frankel argued.

"You take away this run and this guy wasn't even on the radar," he said, adding: "Everyone in this country now knows who this guy is, which helps a lot for book sales."

Cain spent a significant portion of his presidential run on a book tour that kept him away from key early voting states, prompting questions about the seriousness of his bid.

Cain's improved name recognition in the wake of his presidential run will likely mean higher speaking fees, larger book deals, and a potentially-lucrative role on television, Frankel noted. Past and present presidential and vice presidential candidates - including Mike Huckabee, Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich - have found lucrative homes on Fox News.

Cain quipped during his speech announcing the end of his campaign that he had achieved "99.9" percent name recognition, a reference to his signature 9-9-9 tax plan.

According to Frankel, the allegations against Cain are unlikely to hurt his brand and earning power in the long run.

"As a result of dropping out, this story will just go away," he said. "This is not a stain on a blue dress."

He added: "Look at Eliot Spitzer. He got caught with a kinky prostitute, and he still got his own show on CNN."

Full CBS News coverage: Herman Cain

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Herman Cain on the campaign trail

[newsreader27]

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[licht1]

Herman Cain ordered his campaign funds "to go," With Pepperoni.

See http://wp.me/p6sb6-bKS

[johnsmith9875]

He's not a pizza man, he's a Federal Reserve Banker. Thank god he couldn't keep his pants on around single women, otherwise the Federal Reserve would be in the white house.

[Jhihmoac]

His brand? Yeah, right..."Able Cain's No-Tell Motels - The Home of 'Oooh and Ahhh' "

[Skruffy1]

Could it be that "helping his brand", boosting his income, was his aim all along? He could not possibly have seriously thought he had a chance at being elected. Even without the sexual stuff which made him look sleazy, he came off sounding like a doofus right out of the box.

[ihaveonethingtosay]

Don't you writers get it? It is not about the sexual relationships out of wedlock. It about his continual lying, deceiving his family and friends, using "Jesus" was his guide. He only decided to end his 13 year affair when he decided to run for President. Cain is a master at deception.

[JV1970]

How do you know he was lying? Were you there when those instances happened? Were you a witness? All you know is what those women said vs what he said.

[artistkvip]

i say i pray 4 my gov. Rick Scott because as a Florida resident I honestly wish our Governor to have success and make our sate better... his actual choices on law with information i have ... and i live in Tallahassee fl... i see prayer as Fl only hope until Rick finds a honest brain he can perhaps hire .. i would be in favor of using state money to try this ;-) when the the right wing republican fl goons don't like you .. you know you are wway way wayyy yyy .weigh?...... right i get tired of them need more tax money to fixxxx all the stuff that wasn't broken until they broke it and don't understand why they think they are the ones who can put it back together ... perhaps a third choice representative before a time tested in the real world .. proven loser

[Megapril]

You don't get out much do you...

[artistkvip]

no doubt he got plenty of pub..... just think what might have happened if he had just been honest about who he was and is in modern times ... be who you are or don't seek scrutiny maybe ... the word idiot comes to my mind although in another weigh he is.. the consummate success story with pizza in America that story .. is as far as eye know .. true... we all have different parts of the same human being that do what .... they dooo ;-) humor helps in life no matter whether you are the subject or the belly laughter in life and i think we all rotate in who is who .. once a person is thought to be dishonest you don't ever trust them with money , honey or power if given the choice in life .. he knew this from the hiring process he went through at God fathers pizza .. poly-ticks is not a fantasy world unless one drins the kool aid or tea or smokes what ever ... (that wood be my choice for medicinal reasons with ptsd and real science if Florida was not sew crooked with our medical $$$ gov.) to make the elephant or donkey seem to start flying... i see see all around the earth what i call money zombies .. huge pools of money with no ... brain because they are looking 4 a fantasy answer in real life to bolster thier self.. asss-cesss-mints of self in real life maybe. .. i have often said and i think it is very true .. Rick Scott Fl gov. should have bought a brain ... before he bought the position of Florida governor with his own money.I pray 4 him it is never 2 late to buy a brain or to due the correct thing in life ...instead of flexibly choosing the righttttt weigh on everything whether it is correct or naught. I have nothing agianst right when it is actually .. correct but silly me eye likes mie stufffff corrrected instead of fixxxxed or core-wreck-ted.. and 4 the republican party where is Chris Shays.. he has a far better brain and real track record inwashington of correct than newt.. just a thought duhhhhhhhh from the 99.99% maybe

[Megapril]

Do you always drink heavily before getting behind your keyboard??

[bajajohn1]

Who is this so-called 'expert' that no one has head of and deserves a headline on CBS? Frankel must be a filler for a slow news day ans he is just another nobody making noise for republicans, with a little 'r'

[daffy64]

Hey, he could do ads for condoms. "When you're cheatin' on the Missus, and you're an XXL, try Spermn Herman's King SIze Ribbed".