Cain tries to hold on as Ginger White says he would not be a good president
Herman Cain is trying to hold on to his flailing campaign. But that may not be possible as rivals pile on and even his alleged former lover said he would not be a good president.
Ginger White, the woman who says she carried on a "casual" affair with the Georgia businessman for more than a decade, told ABC News Wednesday that "I honestly do not think that he is, in my opinion, would make a good president as far as I'm concerned."
Herman Cain has been on a roller coaster ride for the past few months. At the back of the pack in the Republican presidential race over the summer, the former Godfather's Pizza chief executive surged to the top after rival Rick Perry's collapse and then plunged in the polls after allegations of sexual harassment emerged about a month ago.
When the White story emerged on Monday, political observers, and even his rivals, assumed Cain was cooked.
Cain, who has never been a traditional candidate and has touted his not-a-politician background, has other ideas.
He told supporters Tuesday he is "reassessing" his campaign, but his campaign manager and spokesman both told CBS News that Cain is not dropping out, but making a strategic reassessment of what to do next.
Before a Tuesday speech in Michigan, Cain's Twitter account read: "The definition of reassess is: To consider again, esp. while paying attention to new factors. Doesn't sound like dropping out..."
Michele Bachmann, who has been the most vocal about Cain since the harassment allegations emerged, told a radio show Tuesday that "people just don't see that there is an ability for him to be able to come back after" these latest allegations.
And Texas Gov. Rick Perry weighed in Wednesday, telling Fox News Cain "needs to address these allegations."
"That's the bottom line," Perry said, adding "he needs to address the allegations and if they're true he has to address that with the people of this country."
It was the first time Perry addressed the most recent accusations against Cain. When the Atlanta businessman faced charges of sexual harassment last month, Perry said he preferred to leave the issue alone until something was proven.
Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman said Cain should reconsider his candidacy because the coverage of his personal life is a distraction for all the candidates.
"We've got real issues to talk about not the latest bimbo eruption," Huntsman told the Boston Herald Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Mitt Romney, who benefits most from Cain staying in and splitting the anybody-but-Romney vote, attacked former House Speaker Newt Gingrich for the first time on Tuesday.
Cain's departure would help Gingrich, who picked up the support of two New Hampshire state representatives who had been backing Herman Cain for president.
Asked if should end his bid for the presidency, White told ABC "that's something that he has to look himself in the mirror and ask himself."
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