Who Is Gloria Cain? Meet the Presidential Candidate’s Wife
- Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:13am by
Billy Hallowell
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Gloria (left) and Herman (right) Cain (AP Photo)
ATLANTA (The Blaze/AP) — Gloria Cain is hardly the traditional presidential campaign wife.
She has been virtually absent from the campaign trail as her husband, Herman, runs for the Republican presidential nomination. And she’s been silent this week as the businessman fights to overcome allegations that he sexually harassed women while he led the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s.
“She’s doing fine, and she’s still 200 percent supportive of me in this whole race, 200 percent supportive of me as her husband, because I haven’t done anything,” Cain told conservative talk show host Sean Hannity on Thursday. He added: “She is feeling for me more so, because she knows that it’s baseless.”
Those who know Cain‘s wife of 43 years say she backs her husband’s candidacy. Mrs. Cain is often described as “gentle” and “the nicest woman you’ll ever meet,” and people frequently remark on her faith and dedication to her husband and her family.
But it’s unclear whether Mrs. Cain, 65, will step into the national spotlight to defend her husband the way so many spouses have done over the years when politicians are rocked by allegations of sexual misconduct.
Numerous reports – including the Blaze blog – have indicated that Gloria Cain will appear tonight on Fox News for the first time. “You will meet my wife publicly, in an exclusive interview that we are currently planning and anticipating,” her husband explained on Monday. The Washington Post reports:
Gloria Cain’s appearance on the stump could not come at a more awkward and crucial time for the GOP contender, who sits atop some polls, yet seems vulnerable to an implosion after acknowledging that he was accused years ago of inappropriate behavior toward a female employee.

Relatively little is known about Mrs. Cain beyond what Cain writes about her in his 222-page book: “This Is Herman Cain!: My Journey to the White House.”
Cain devotes a chapter to his wife; it’s 3 1/2-pages long. He also dedicated the book to three groups of people, including his wife “for her unwavering support, patience, and sacrifice.”
The chapter begins: “Gloria Etchison was beautiful. Let’s face it; I was first attracted by her looks. And then I figured out she was also smart.”
Cain writes that the two first saw each other on the street corner near the family owned grocery store where he worked as a college freshman. The future Mrs. Cain was walking down the street with a high school friend of his. It would be almost a year before the two went out on their first date – to the movies – while she was attending Morris Brown College and he was at Morehouse College.
“It was magic from that moment on, and so I didn’t go out with anyone else. Neither did Gloria,” Cain wrote.
The two were married June 23, 1968. They have two adult children – a daughter, Melanie, and a son, Vincent – and grandchildren.
As he runs for president, Cain wrote: “Gloria continues to be a steady source of devotion and inspiration, never more so than now.” But, in the book, he admits that she wasn’t originally sold on his campaign plans. He wrote:
“Gloria didn’t immediately jump up and down and cheer. In fact she was terrified! Scared to death! That was because of the widely held perception of what it’s like to be in politics — of what it can do to your family and to you, the candidate.”

Cain acknowledges that people often ask why she doesn’t campaign with him, and he tells them that she’s at home. “And Gloria will tell them that she’s not running but supports me 100 percent. That’s all I need.”
The Daily Beast backs up these claims about the campaign and her character, writing:
…people close to the Cains in Georgia describe the missus as a warm, friendly, traditional wife who is more interested in keeping the sanity of her and her family’s life in McDonough, Ga., than in traipsing through corn fields in Iowa or snow drifts in Manchester.
“He is the big, gregarious personality. She is this tranquility of the campaign,” says Martha Zoller, a GOP Congressional candidate and a friend of Herman Cain. Zoller continues:
“She is very supportive, but her one reservation was that she did not want to be in the spotlight. She understands that at some time that may come. Until then, he loves her so much that he’s going to protect her. They’re crazy about each other.”
Mrs. Cain was with her husband in Omaha, Neb., during his years as a restaurateur and by his side as he beat colon cancer. In 1998, when the Cains returned to Atlanta, they also went back to Antioch Baptist Church North, Herman Cain’s longtime spiritual home.
“She’s a woman of deep faith involved in a lot of church activities,” said Matt Carrothers, who worked on Cain’s failed campaign for U.S. Senate in 2004 and later worked for Cain from 2004 to 2007.
Carrothers said that while going out on the campaign trail isn’t her primary interest, Gloria Cain supports her husband in other ways.
“Whenever I would go to Herman’s house, there were grandkids running around. She has her own activities, but she’s fully supportive of everything he does,” he said.

Regardless of Cain’s current scandal, it will be intriguing to gain more perspective into his life if his wife does, indeed, speak publicly for the first time during the 2012 campaign.


















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Comments (176)
Totally Domestic
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:14amGloria Cain has the class that Mooshell has been looking for!
I bet Gloria has always loved her country!
Report Post »texaspatriots
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:56amGloria Cain looks like a class act and I admit it would be nice to have a first lady that won’t leave Air Force one in cut offs and a tank top! However, Herman Cain doesn’t have my vote. He is very weak on foreign affairs. He spoke out against the mosque and later apologized for offending muslims. I have had enought of this the past 3 years. Not just anybody gets to be a chairman of the Federal Reserve. The tea party backing a former Fed chair – wow!
Report Post »fatjack
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 10:41amThe tea party backing a former Fed chair – wow!
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Best sentence of the year.
Report Post »techengineer11
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 10:54amThe tea party backing a former Fed chair – wow!
_______________________________________________
Best sentence of the year.
Right. Enough said. That pretty much sums it all up.. I simply don’t understand how fellow Conservatives can be so dense. America has been raped pillaged and left for dead. The number 1 culprit? Federal Reserve! And you claim that you are a Patriot and you put your support behind a former Fed Gov??? Who not only doesn’t renounce the Fed or desire to Audit it but says “It worked pretty good when Mr. Greenspan and I were there..”
Come On Man!!! Wise Up! Sure Cain is not the top pick of the Liberal/Jewish Media but he‘s acceptable and he’s being widely promoted by the Neo-Con FOX News.. Please Beware! Yes he’s 10k times the man Obama is but once again Beware!
Report Post »Auntie izlam
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:10pmShe looks like a lovely person and yes, I‘ll bet SHE loves her country and wouldn’t use up it’s resources taking her friends on vacation while Americans are losing their homes and starving.
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:55pmHerman is right. His wife is beautiful and has a winning smile just like him. They look like two very happy people. I’d love to see both of them in the W.H. and hope they turn it into a wonderful place again. It‘s time we get back to the basics with a President who’ll deliver honesty & respect toward all.
I’m really excited about the prospects of a decent person back in charge of this Country. Raise Cain.
Report Post »Boomer One
Posted on November 6, 2011 at 9:09amIt would be nice to have another Black First Lady capable of undoing the damage caused by the first one.
Report Post »Tagudinian
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:10amI am puzzled by all this media attention given Herman Cain. Good Lord they can’t seem to get enough of Mr Herman Cain. And now they are introducing his wife into the fray. Come on folks – enough of Herman Cain already. How about the other GOP candidates? Do you have to have trash in your closet or some egregious secret to be given the spotlight? Let us talk substance here. What does Mr Herman Cain intend to do with Israel, the Middle East, Europe, Russia, China, et al? What does he intend to do with MOTOWN’s going broke? Enough of this tabloid stuff already.
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:24amI agree with you on all the media coverage. I will support Cain if he is the candidate, but I prefer Newt. Newt is the most knowledgeable, articulate person in the group. He has a strong plan to undo everything Obama has done and would wipe the floor with Obama in a debate.
Report Post »jmiller_42
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:29amCain said in an interview that he thought China was trying to get nuclear capabilities. MWAHAHAHAHAHAH. Like all other issues, he is clueless. I agree though, we need to stop talking about his personal life so much.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE0w2w6-Ndc
Report Post »qpwillie
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:34amNHwinter,
Report Post »The problem is, Newt is also the most ‘Washington insider’ of the group. He’s a smart man and pretty conservative but he does do things like a politician.
KTsayz
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 10:24am@NHwinter Because I‘ve been hearing how Newt is gaining in the polls I’ve begun my refresher course as to why he is no good. I already know Newt is CFR and CFR (Council for Foreign Relations) is a NWO entity, but what I forgot was that Newt help Clinton get NAFTA pushed through. What I didn’t know is that Newt also helped Clinton get the updated GATT/WTO deal through. BAD BAD BAD
Report Post »Of course we should all remember him cosying up with Pelosi on the couch to tell us we need to adress new energy forms b/c of globull warminng…um…er… climate change.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi6n_-wB154
Oh, he apoligized for that, sorta.
Take the leaf offered by this Iowa voter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=_G2vovE12tk
techengineer11
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 11:00amHe’s a neo-con insider.. It’s really that simple.
Report Post »DirtyWhiteBoy8
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 11:51amGingrich/Cain Now thats the ticket !!!
Report Post »DirtyWhiteBoy8
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 12:02pmGingrich/Cain Now thats the ticket !!!
Report Post »GoldenRudy
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 11:08pmCould it be that his comment had a deeper meaning in that China is continuing development of its nuclear capabilities and not just the development of the original bomb? China is developing ICBMs, nuclear missile subs, aircraft carrier(s) that will no doubt have aircraft capable of carrying nuclear bombs, etc. Just maybe?
Report Post »420 Patriot
Posted on November 5, 2011 at 12:20amI cannot believe all the so-called Tea Party members (if that is what you really are) that say you are for Cain. He has a tax plan!! Taxes are presently paid to the FED for the debt we owe them with interest!! We need to get rid of individual income tax, not figure out another way to pay it. 9% Fed Sales Tax?? What are all of you thinking?? I know I will be called names by the ones who claim to be Tea and the leftists on here that are afraid, but Paul, who actually started the Tea Party, would do everything he can to get rid of the FED and the IRS! Paul is the only person willing to tell the truth that scares all of us, but it is the truth. Wake Up.
Report Post »420 Patriot
Posted on November 5, 2011 at 12:30amI did want to add one more thing. Have any of you checked out our debt clock lately? Do any of you know how to balance a business budget? I encourage all to check out this link to the Natl Debt Clock. It is real time. Look at our debt, then look at our gross domestic product. This is scary stuff guy‘s and gal’s.
http://www.usdebtclock.org/
What is coming is inevitable. How do we face it? One World Economic Order or Go back to Liberty and fix the problem. Rough times either way, but if it is the first scenario, Liberty is lost forever.
Report Post »noczars
Posted on November 5, 2011 at 8:46pmYou are not LISTENING! Herman Cain was in the second row @ Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Courage” in Isreal. No othere candidate had the nerve to go, and congress asked members NOT to attend. If you cared, there is plenty of information on Hermain Cain’s stance.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:08am“GOD does not call the `qualified’. GOD qualifies THE CALLED.”
I think the Cains would make a wonderful President and First Lady. It has been almost four year since we have had either.
Report Post »fancydancy
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:31am@kickagrandma
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:08am
“GOD does not call the `qualified’. GOD qualifies THE CALLED.”
I think the Cains would make a wonderful President and First Lady.
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Ditto! It was David that beat Goliath.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:08amMrs. Cain seems like a nice lady. There is probably no legitimate scandal that can be connected to her but that won’t stop the left or the MSM. It would be nice to have a real lady in the the White House again and not the so called First “ lady ” we have now.
Report Post »your sensei
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:04amI’ll take a slice o dat.
Report Post »c0mm0nsense
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:14amThey took your post off. You have been censored.
Report Post »c0mm0nsense
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:17amThe Defenders of Freedom here censoring you.
Report Post »your sensei
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:25amIt was just.too.good wasn’t it? One of my better forays into their dark side.
Report Post »discus02
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:01amI hope these allegations are wrong, but they are he should step aside immediately.
Report Post »Justus39
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:12amMaybe we should put Bill Clinton back in office. It takes more than words to convince me Cain has done anything wrong.This is not but P/C coming from idiots!
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 10:06pmYou mention Clinton who is a womanizer, even in the Oval Office. You forget the Kennedy’s and their old man who escorted another woman for years & the illegal booze he sold. Teddy couldn’t even try to save a drowning woman, even Carter admitted he lusted in his heart. FDR had his woman on the side. More stories than I care to remember. Herman did nothing to these women other than mesmerizing them with his winning smile and cute little smirk. The MSM is doing full duty smearing conservatives.
Report Post »THX-1138
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:00amThe next First Lady. Very nice. Let’s see the MSM try to tear her down and how people react to *that*.
Herman is a done deal.
Report Post »fatjack
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 10:32amWhat blows me over, the people defending Cain are the same people that cut Bill to ribbons for the same indiscretions.
Report Post »Faith1029
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 2:33pmFATJACK: “What blows me over, the people defending Cain are the same people that cut Bill to ribbons for the same indiscretions.”
Oh for gosh sakes, Clinton was doing it while in office and nothing has been proven of Cain and even if it’s true, it was 12 years ago. If God can forgive, who are we to judge! Get over it already.
Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone.
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on November 5, 2011 at 5:26pm@FAITH 1029, Thank you for pointing out the obvious to someone who doesn’t realize actual sex is really sex. Talk and flirting are not sex if it doesn’t go any further. I’m not into sexual suggestions from any man, but I doubt Herman said any more than just being who he is, a happy, outgoing guy who is friendly and whatever he said was taken out of context by a liberal woman. end of story.
Now as for Clinton, he was doing everything that moved and some who objected. If that’s who he is, and the woman accepts his overt advances, more will happen. He is a classic womanizer.
Report Post »jakartaman
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:58amDon’t know the women – but on the surface she seems to be a class act.
Report Post »I bet she has always been proud of America. also bet her preacher is not a raving racist!
Eliasim
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:02amThe only thing I don’t like is the reasons people are getting behind backing Herman Cain. I don’t like it, I don’t like it.
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:11amPeople just don’t see how their likes and dislikes are getting channeled and used against them and to diminish the one light in many people and it angers to me to no end.
Report Post »pwatkins
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 10:32amI might have a question about her and Cain’s pastor in reference to your comment bc the Pastor does have a strong admiration for Malcolm X and frequently has speakers to his church such as Jesse Jackson. Sounds like a liberally political pastor to me, but I guess some might read into it a different way. Herman Cain probably would be the last person to beat Obama, but go ahead and back him if you want to take the risk. His wife does appear classy but has nothing to do with how he can lead, but his lack of knowledge of how to handle foreign affairs does, his race card playing, and allegations on Perry and others is unreasoable when there is some strong proof he commited the acts he is accused of bc of pay offs.. He has lied so much lately I would have no confidence in his trust, bc he’s proved he is not only an insider politican, but a dishonest one at that. Herman Cain like Obama thinks about Herman Cain only.
Report Post »fatjack
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 10:49ampwatkins
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 10:32am
I might have a question about her and Cain’s pastor in reference to your comment bc the Pastor does have a strong admiration for Malcolm X and frequently has speakers to his church such as Jesse Jackson. Sounds like a liberally political pastor to me, but I guess some might read into it a different way. Herman Cain probably would be the last person to beat Obama, but go ahead and back him if you want to take the risk. His wife does appear classy but has nothing to do with how he can lead, but his lack of knowledge of how to handle foreign affairs does, his race card playing, and allegations on Perry and others is unreasoable when there is some strong proof he commited the acts he is accused of bc of pay offs.. He has lied so much lately I would have no confidence in his trust, bc he’s proved he is not only an insider politican, but a dishonest one at that. Herman Cain like Obama thinks about Herman Cain only.
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+1
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:55amwow, there’s a lady. one look at Mrs Cain and you know she’d be a gracious and dignified First Lady. nothing about her appearing on camera now is ”awkward”, and we take offense at that phrasing in the article.
Mrs Cain is very obviously the exact opposite of that belligerent street trash communist Flotus the Wonder Sow obama that is spending taxpayer millions on her slightest whims and indulgences.
Report Post »scoter
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:52amdo we really want four more years of the Marxist in chief?
http://www.helpfireobama.com Please give $20.12
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:49amShe looks like a lovely lady. I don’t blame her for not wanting to step into the spotlight. The MSM is vicious!! She should say that it is a left wing conspiracy to ruin her husband. Take some notes on how Hillary handled all the women who accused Bill of sleezy attacks on them. The MSM didn’t seem to pay attention to those women who came out in droves.
Report Post »your sensei
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:45amNo, I’m the 40th woman.
Report Post »gallinipper
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:16amSensei, Would that be the 40th woman for Bil or Obama?
Report Post »Islesfordian
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:45amWell I guess when it comes to class warfare you’re totally unarmed. You have no class.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:43am@your sense less
Report Post »I guess you have to be accused of rape , or lie under oath about having sex with interns while you’re on trial for exposing yourself to a low level state employee … To get the top spot in the Democrat party, and if i had air force one at my disposal i think i could do better than a fat intern you moron…
Insuranceman
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:40amHerman is unqualified because he lacks knowledge and does not care. His wife probably doesn’t deserve the spotlight that will be put on their family. If she goes out there and try’s to persuade republicans that he is the guy, the right wing crazies will tear them apart.
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:52amUnqualified? And Obama was qualified???? You are kidding, right. Cain has more business knowledge than Obama every had. If he get a knowledgeable VP on foreign affairs, he will be fine. Look what a community organizer has done to our country!!!!!!!!
Report Post »kentuckypatriot
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:54amOh, and your guy is qualified? Sorry, community organizer delibratley destroying this country doesn’t cut it.
Report Post »ares338
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:40amThe more Cain gains in popularity she will eventually be attacked. This is the vicious nature of our political system! I would like to see this man prevail.
Report Post »c0mm0nsense
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:36amYou really should feel sorry for her.
Report Post »Hickory
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:35amGloria is a kind, sweet lady. The real point here is she is a lady. We haven’t had a lady in the white house for almost 3 years now.
Report Post »Insuranceman
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:43amOh and why would you say that? Perhaps an intelligent women scares you!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:56amMy guess is that an anti American in the White House scares Hickory.
Report Post »alex22892
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:00am@INSURANCEMAN
Report Post »Intelligence in the white house. How can say that when no record of Michelle or Barracks education have been released. You have no clue that she is intelligent, she’s personly accomplished nothing to show us that she is intelligence.
Hickory
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:21amInsuranceman, this gracious lady can eat with one hand and uses a fork. She also can speak several sentences without using profanity.
Report Post »c0mm0nsense
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:35amHow do you know these things? Your not the 4th women are you?
Report Post »YoungBloodNews
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:34amIts about to get ugly if he’s brought out the wife. My money is on the accusers being white women…
Report Post »Lloyd Drako
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 10:00amYoungbloodnews: I suspect you are right! It will be most delicious to see how various elements of the left and right react if this turns out to be the case.
Report Post »Vechorik
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:33amMore power to them. For the life of me, I can’t figure out why Mr. Cain consented to a debate with only Newt. Newt will eat Mr. Cain alive!
Report Post »c0mm0nsense
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:37amHe is passing the torch.
Report Post »V-MAN MACE
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:38amThe Cain propaganda from the left AND the right is stomach-turning.
But yea, Newt will eat Cain’s lunch in debate, mostly because Cain has no idea what the hell he is talking about most of the time, as if he is a real-life version of Bad Lip Reading, and partly because Newt has been around blowing smoke up rear ends for so long that he knows how to say exactly what neocons and some conservatives want to hear. Practiced smoker blowing smoke rings up the cloacae of neocons.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:48amThat’s OK, let the cream rise to the top. We need some one on one debates instead of this game show kind of thing that’s been going on. Get Ron Paul involved too.
Report Post »WBOPP
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:23amI look for this to be a discussion of ideas and would not be shocked of an eventual VP offering in the works. I’m just unclear as to whom takes the top slot.
Report Post »BARN-KAT
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 10:53amDo you know when this debate is? I would like to see that. Wonder who will cover it?
Report Post »c0mm0nsense
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:33amSeems to me Gloria should be worried about the Sean taking her man.
Report Post »gabbygirl
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:29amThey are both to nice to live in Washington with a bunch of slime balls.
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:22amIf the Liberal media got ahold of her what would they make her out to be? We may soon see it anyway, even if she does stay in the background.
Report Post »your sensei
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:48amYou mean Her Thighness?
Report Post »NHABE64
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:20amIts obvious the liberal left will spend millions to try and conjure up lies and fabrications against Herman Cain. Bottom line is Obama and his cockroaches are scared to death of him. This is probably just the tip of the iceberg, there will a smear campaign of most like gigantic proportions, they will pay people to lie, they will do every dirty little socialist trick to turn America against this good man who theatens their White House bid for re-election. Americans would have to insane to even consider keeping Obama in his job. He is nothing more than a radical muslim who hoodwinked America into believing in him. BIG mistake America! Knowing the goodness and strength of Herman Cain I believe he can weather this storm and keep moving on towards unseating this villain we have in the White House. Go Herman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »Hickory
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:37amOn target NHABE.
Report Post »fatjack
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 11:14amIts obvious the liberal left will spend millions to try and conjure up lies and fabrications against Herman Cain
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What? The ladies filed their complaints years ago………………Oh, I get it, the lies were preplanned.
Report Post »Doug in Seattle
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 4:57pmThe left will conjure up anything on ANY opposition candidate. They want a RINO in the general election so they have left Romney alone for now. But if Romney fans think he will be immune if he wins the nomination, just wait – Romney will be the easiest to whomp come next fall when they level their guns. I can see it now – Romney is a racist because he did or didn’t choose Cain as VP.
Report Post »JERZEE GIRL
Posted on November 5, 2011 at 6:19amHerman Caine, should keep on going ahead wit his campain, he is a man who is standing strong and not backing down. I would want a president who can hang tough. what it amounts to is the socialist
Report Post »agenda is not going as planed, and there getting desperate