What Herman Cain Really Thinks of Newt Gingrich
The onetime GOP frontrunner is expected to throw his support to Newt Gingrich. But in an interview last spring with Lloyd Grove, Cain pointed out Gingrich’s Achilles' heel.
Spencer Platt ; Scott Olson / Getty Images
If Herman Cain is really getting ready to endorse Newt Gingrich, as has been widely rumored in the media-political complex, it will represent a departure from Cain’s previous opinions about the former speaker of the House.
Back in March, before he was a political phenomenon and then a scandal-plagued dropout in the Republican presidential race, Cain singled out Gingrich as a “challenged” candidate during an interview at the Conservative Principles Conference in Des Moines, Iowa.
“I think we have an impressive field, but President Obama is not going to be easy to beat, because too many of the general population make their decision strictly on style and soundbites, not depth of the issues,” Cain said. “One of the most competent, knowledgeable people [in the race] is Newt Gingrich. I have the greatest amount of respect for Newt Gingrich. However, he’s going to have a challenge connecting with the American people.”
Cain added that he was worried that Gingrich might lose to the president on style points. “It doesn’t matter how great your ideas are,” he said. “You have also got to be able to go toe to toe with President Obama in terms of how you connect with the American people.”
Presumably—when, as, and if Cain does endorse his former rival—he will explain just how Gingrich overcame his doubts and made him a believer.