Herman Cain
Herman Cain, former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, launched his run for the presidency on Saturday, May 21, in Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, his hometown.
"After prayerful consideration with my family and closest friends, I have decided to seek the Republican nomination for president of the United States," Cain said to cheering crowd. "I look forward to continuing my travels across the country, engaging in discussions with the American people about the concerns facing our nation and sharing my 'common sense solutions' with them.
"Let me tell you what the Cain Doctrine would be: We ain't raising the debt ceiling," he proclaimed. "We are going to cut the spending."
Cain, who has never run for an office, has worked for Coca-Cola, Pillsbury, Burger King, Godfather's Pizza and the National Restaurant Association. He’s a fiscal conservative who says he provides common-sense solutions to complex problems – the kind of solutions that he says made him successful in the business world.
Cain, 65, was diagnosed with liver and colon cancer in 2006, but he says he's been cancer-free since 2007, and credits the American health system for his recovery. He is critical of President Obama’s health care plan.
He and his wife Gloria have two children.
Profile Details
Birthplace: Memphis, Tennessee
Family: Gloria Cain (wife); Children: Melanie and Vincent.
Religion: Baptist.
Job before candidacy: Newspaper columnists
Political experience: Has never run for president or any other public office.
Most recent book written: "They Think You're Stupid: Why Democrats Lost Your Vote and What Republicans Must Do to Keep It" (2011)
More on Herman Cain: He is not your average, run-of-the-mill candidate.
Pros: Motivating speaker. Inspiring life story. Businessman and political outsider.
Cons: Weak on policy questions and positions. Unable to translate his outsider status to grassroots support.
Cain on the Web:
