Cain's Next Move: Sue Politico?

The economy, simplicity, limits of outsiders, say pundits

(NEWSER) - So, after a fleeting moment at the top of the polls , Herman Cain's run for the Oval Office is over. Now comes the political dissection, as analysts ask what his unconventional campaign meant:

• The root of Cain's popularity was his campaign's "simplicity and unconventionality," says Chris Cillizza at the Washington Post . His tax plan was easy and "seemed to make sense," and reinforced his unique, off-beat approach. "The Republican base, sick of politics-as-usual as practiced by both parties in Washington, loved Cain’s I-am-not-a-politician riff," said Cillizza.

Candidate spent evening with woman he 'never met,' says Victor Jay Zuckerman

(NEWSER) - Herman Cain spent an entire evening with Sharon Bialek, the woman the candidate claimed he never met , says her former beau. "Sharon indeed did meet and spend time with Mr. Cain," Victor Jay Zuckerman said at a press conference yesterday. Zuckerman, a Louisiana pediatrician, said he and Bialek socialized with Cain in 1997 at a National Restaurant Association convention in Chicago. Cain then invited them to an after-dinner party in a hotel suite, where Cain "engaged both of us in conversation," he added. Later that year, Bialek told Zuckerman that Cain inappropriately touched her when she met him in Washington—at Cain's suggestion—for employment help. More»

Cain's wife defends him in Fox interview to air tonight

(NEWSER) - “He totally respects women," Herman Cain's wife says in defense of her husband in her first TV interview ever, set to air tonight on Fox, reports the Washington Post . Partial transcripts were released last night, with Gloria Cain, Herman Cain's wife of 43 years, declaring ( as Cain predicted ) that she is "200%" behind her husband, even though five women have accused him of sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior . More»

Behind a damaged Herman Cain, according to new poll

(NEWSER) - Don’t look now, but Newt Gingrich appears to have crawled his way into the top tier of the GOP presidential field. A new CBS News poll has Gingrich tied with Mitt Romney for second place, at 15% each. Ahead of both is Herman Cain with 18%, but the poll shows he has been damaged somewhat by his sexual harassment scandal. (Also in the poll's top five positions: 17% for "don't know" and 14% for "someone else.") More»

Not that it'll hurt his fundraising ability...

(NEWSER) - Herman, Herman, Herman... Just one day after Herman Cain apologized for referring to Nancy Pelosi as “Princess Nancy,” he stepped in it again with a joke about Anita Hill. That’s right: Cain, facing allegations of sexual harassment, made a joke about the woman who accused Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment. The presidential contender was at a campaign stop in Michigan yesterday when someone mentioned Hill. A Fox News camera caught Cain responding, “Is she going to endorse me?” to laughter. More»