Herman Cain is ready to move on from the multiple allegations of sexual harassment made against him, but the scandal just isn’t going away. Attorney Gloria Allred is holding another press conference today with one of Mr. Cain’s accusers, Sharon Bialek. They plan to unveil a former boyfriend of Ms. Bialek’s who they claim will back up her tale of being inappropriately groped by Mr. Cain.
Meanwhile, Mr. Cain’s wife Gloria, who hadn’t previously taken a public role on his campaign, gave an interview to Fox News in support of her husband. “”I’m thinking he would have to have a split personality to do the things that were said,” Mrs. Cain said. “He totally respects women.”
Mr. Cain’s scandal began with a report revealing two women complained he made inappropriate advances toward them while he was head of the National Restaurant Association in the late 1990’s. Since then, two other women have accused Mr. Cain of sexual misconduct during his time at the association. Ms. Bialek became the first to come forward publicly when Ms. Allred dramatically revealed her to the media at a packed press conference last Monday. She claimed Mr. Cain got physical with her when she sought his help with her career in 1997.
“He suddenly reached over and he put his hand on my leg under my skirt and reached for my genitals. He also grabbed my head and brought it towards his crotch,” Ms. Bialek said.
Mr. Cain has emphatically denied the various accusations against him, but the scandal has caused his poll numbers to drop slightly and cost him his frontrunner status. In a radio interview Friday, Mr. Cain dismissed the possibility that the scandal could sink his White House bid.
“It didn’t destroy my campaign. It may have put a cloud over it in some people’s mind, but I happen to believe that, as time goes by, and when people really sit back and think about–these were accusations that I faced and categorically denied. I think the reality is going to set in with a lot of people and, you know, further down the road, it’s not going to be as big of a deal as it is,” Mr. Cain said.
Ms. Bialek’s second press conference with Ms. Allred will take place this afternoon in Louisiana.
