Cain to endorse Gingrich, report says

UPDATED 8:34 a.m. ET

Herman Cain may endorse Newt Gingrich as early as today, the local Fox television station in Atlanta is reporting, citing "sources" it did not characterize.

Fox 5 Atlanta, which first reported the news of Ginger White's allegation of a long-term affair with Cain, said Cain "plans to endorse" Gingrich Monday.

Details of the announcement are still being worked out, Fox 5 said.

Asked about the report, Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond said he does not expect a Cain endorsement "today," noting that Cain's campaign chief Mark Block has said he does not expect the pizza magnate to endorse any of his former rivals anytime soon.

If the backing does materialize, the endorsement could give the former House speaker another bump as he heads to Iowa, where voters make the first choice for the Republican nomination in the Jan. 3 caucuses.

A poll released over the weekend by NBC News/Marist College showed Gingrich in first place in Iowa, with 26 percent support of likely caucus goers, who tend to be more conservative than Republicans as a whole.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was second in Iowa, with 18 percent and Texas Rep. Ron Paul took 17 percent. The poll was taken before Cain dropped out Saturday and showed the Georgia businessman in fourth place with 9 percent.

At the same time, Gingrich has risen sharply in New Hampshire, where Romney is widely expected to win. Romney's support is still strong at 39 percent, but Gingrich has risen 19 points from October to to 23 percent in the latest poll. Paul has 16 percent support and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman took 9 percent.

Additional reporting by Sarah Huisenga.