Cain, sans convention speaking slot, rallies conservatives in Tampa

Former Republican presidential hopeful and businessman Herman Cain speaks during a "Unity Rally" on Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012, in Tampa, Fla.

/ AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

(CBS News) TAMPA, Fla. - Former Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain told a crowd of 1,000 mostly Tea Party supporters Sunday that if anything, being pressured out of the race helped him become a more candid mouthpiece for conservative values.

"I am going to say what a lot of people will not say... [because] I ain't running for president!" the former pizza chain head shouted to raucous applause here during a "Unity Rally," part of the Republican National Convention festivities that attracted a room full of supporters waving "Don't Tread on Me" flags. Another former presidential candidate and tea party favorite - Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., - kicked off the event, held at The River Church.

Cain, back in the state that launched his presidential campaign to top-tier status last year with an upset in the Florida GOP straw poll, said he was not offended Mitt Romney didn't invite him to speak at this week's convention because, "it's not about me."

Though he's flown relatively under the radar since suspending his campaign last December amid sexual harassment and extramarital affair allegations, Cain said he refuses to heed those who "thought I was gonna go away... Nope, not gonna happen." One new issue on the agenda for Cain - a black conservative who rarely acknowledged his race during his campaign - is how to help racially diversify the GOP.

Nodding to models like Mia Love, the black Republican nominee for a Utah congressional district, Cain said black conservatives seeking office are growing in number. But, he told reporters following the rally, black voters aren't likely to admit supporting Romney, because Democrats' "scare tactics" stifle their willingness to be tied to "the white guy."

(Watch: Nine questions with Herman Cain.)

Citing a study that deems "African-Americans" more politically correct terminology than "blacks," Cain said to huge cheers, "They say African-Americans, I say black people. I haven't been to Africa once; I've been in America all my life." And joking that "going to a family reunion is like going to a Democratic caucus," Cain used the success story of his father's climb up the ladder as an example of his own conservative ideology.

"I have a message for President Obama: He did that, not the government," Cain said, referencing the president's now-infamous "You didn't build that" line.

Cain also jumped at a chance to knock Vice President Biden for his recent line to a primarily black audience saying Romney would put them "back in chains." Asked about Romney's joke earlier this week that alluded to the president's birth certificate controversy, Cain asked reporters to "cut the man some slack - he's running for president. He can crack a joke every once in a while.

"Vice President Biden tried to do a joke, and it didn't work out too well, did it?" he continued.

But praising his party's own vice presidential contender, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., Cain told the audience, "A lot of people don't realize what it takes to step up to the plate and run for office. It takes a lot. It takes a lot, folks."

[0bama2O12]

Cain rallies conservistives in Tampa -- all three of them.

[TimeToEvolve]

If you are a clueless Republicon who lacks common sense by voting for other Republicons to take all your stuff from you, "Blame Yo'Self" - Herman Cain, 2012

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

Republicans are rigging the elections trying to steal it with these unnecessary VOTER I.D. LAWS and they had yet to pay the appropriate price for subverting our constitution and democracy. The media print, video and digital are complicit in allowing this. The media and our government would be shouting what republicans are doing at every chance if this were going on in country of one of our enemies. But it's accepted because it's happening here in America?

HELL NO! Republicans must be held to account for this attack to subvert our democracy. Republicans should be attacked by libertarians, liberals, conservatives, tea partiers and other groups in addition to the media for subverting our right to vote.

[audemus]

I'm glad Cain is still around...kinda like the way I'm glad that I occasionally find a Foghorn Leghorn cartoon to watch.

[john92021]

Now here is the guy to get the republicans the female vote.

[daffy64]

Only the females who approve of sexual assault.

[Smilestoo]

Requests to release tax returns is common for presidential candidates. We already know that if elected, Mitt will make the Guiness Book of World Records for being the first President of the United States to have a swiss bank account.

Obama made the Guiness Book of World Records for being the first U.S. President to release a Birth Certificate to refute GOP lies.

The GOP needs to prove that Mitt's Mother was not on a Mormon mission in another country when Mitt was born.

[RollotheNorman]

Yah, the RepubliCONs need their clown show and comic relief.

[karlejohn]

Mr Cain, Bain, Cain reminds me on Bain. Bain outsourcing jobs to China. Cain, Bain.

[Smilestoo]

We won't get to see Mitt's Certificate of Birth to prove his Mother was not on a Mormon mission in another country when he was born. Is it because of Mitt's height, hair style, teeth, ears, nose, hands, shoes, shape of his head, or something else?

Releasing tax returns is normal for presidential candidates, but releasing a Certificate of Birth was for Obama only. Is it because of Obama's height, hair style, teeth, ears, nose, hands, shoes, shape of his head, or something else?

[superdem1]

Nobody cares if Herman Cain cheats on his wife, we care that he says he doesn't, and portrays himself as an honorable man. That's Romney's problem, too, he portrays himself as an honorable man but he won't let us see his tax returns, saying they would provide ammo to his enemies - well, duh ! If he did everything he could to sell our country short, to hide his money all over the globe, how can he say he loves this country ? He should have laid it all out, and defended it if he can. But NO - he doesn't think we deserve to know his business, we are simply supposed to elect him President. Sorry, Mitt, you are King of the Neanderthals, but America needs more than a corporate sheister who would sell his mother down the river for a buck. Corporations may be people to you, but we can't have your kind appointing any more Supreme Court justices who will take away our rights. Some of us still remember democracy, and not the highest bidder. All of this secret money is CORRUPTION. Bet you won't talk about THAT at your convention !

[Smilestoo]

So, the American people are Mitt's enemies? Then, why is he running for President?

[Filmguy870]

Hermannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn! Doh!!!!!!!! Pizza dude.