Des Moines, Iowa (CNN) - The communications director for Herman Cain's presidential campaign has resigned, CNN has learned.
Ellen Carmichael told CNN on Saturday her decision is firm but not yet finalized.
"I have resigned but the paperwork's not final," Carmichael said.
Carmichael explained her decision is a personal one and that she's pursuing other professional opportunities. She also said that her assistant, Francis Boustany, is also leaving for professional reasons.
CNN asked Carmichael about the Republican presidential candidate's reaction to her departure. Carmichael is well known to the political press corps as a reliable and responsible promoter of Cain's message. She was recently recognized at a CNN event as part of a new generation of newsmakers. And Cain has often publicly praised Carmichael.
"It's a very amicable departure," Carmichael said. "He wished me the best of luck. And I will forever be fond of him and appreciative of this opportunity."
In June, two other staffers left the Cain campaign. CNN asked Carmichael if her and Boustany's departures are a sign of more trouble for Cain.
"No comment," she said.
"I have served Mister Cain for more than a year," Carmichael added. "We've had ups and downs. We've had tons of money and very little money. And I've stuck through some very difficult and some very rewarding times on the campaign. And it was just time for me to go pursue other professional opportunities."
The timing of Carmichael's resignation is sure to raise eyebrows. Cain's candidacy is currently generating headlines, having recently won a Florida straw poll, seeing some momentum in some polls and earning some positive reviews for recent debate performances. On Friday, the candidate snagged a spot on NBC's "Tonight Show with Jay Leno."
Carmichael insists her decision is "not reflective of any particular current event."
"I am incredibly fond of Mister Cain. I think he's a fantastic candidate and a great person of the highest character. And I think he has an important voice and an important message. My decision to leave is not a reflection of any sort of displeasure with Mister Cain."
CNN contacted the Cain campaign for reaction but did not receive a response.
Follow Shannon Travis on Twitter: @ShanTravisCNN
From CNN Politics
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Mr Redeyes - er, nevermind.
Must be trouble on the nut-farm. ha ha ha
Well, didn't take very long for the reality check, did it Herb? Campaign broke? I'm sure Trump will float you a loan until your 'ship come in'. After all, you did win that meaningful straw poll in Florida, didn't you?
Face it, she couldn't take anymore of his black-nut lunacy, so like a smart rat, she fled the ship before it's completely submerged.
Maybe joining up with the latest and "greatest"? (Christie the bully).
The liberal "RACIST" will be here posting only negative comments about Mr. Cain because he's a black man.
Don't worry cain. Why don't you hire the imbecilic moron from AK to come work for you. She was singing your praises on faux news and screeching her usual bs about people she knows nothing about. How do we know? She kept calling you herb instead of herman. Not once, not twice, but at least four times! That woman IS AN IDIOT!
HELLO.. Cain has moved into the top tier. He needs a TOP communications team.
Okay so the '999' explanation fell apart on Leno last night. But besides the fact that he just seems like a crazy granddaddy, I would like to know the real reason for this departure...
Go Cain Go, please AMERICANS Vote for herman cain, our first BLACK PRESIDENT, an articulate, smart, military man, a self made bussiness man, hes so kind
"Jumping off a run-a-way freight train"....Hey, Angry Black Man....you don't speak for me. What have you done for the 16% unemployment rate....the disparity of wealth....the low wage jobs and the "undercover racism" that is played to NOT give opportunity. Everybody don't make pizzas......I didn't like your pizzas....It was as "tasteless" as you.
Go Cain Go, HE WILL SAVE AMERICA, Our frist BLACK PRESIDENT
Evidently someone does like black walnuts or even black wingnuts.
A classic example of a news items where you know without a doubt that no one quoted is being straightforward.
Maybe she does not like the Black Walnut flavor LOL
Back to delivering Pizza Mr Cain . What do you think of your GOP now ? They did and will continue to use you as long as their interests make it easier to have a Black man cut down another Black Man in this instance the President of the USA.
And to think, I thought b!tch slapping Bailin' Palin by callling her "iced milk" was one of the nicer things I have heard about the grizzly grifter!
Guess Ellen likes iced milk and teed off at the insult!
The price of Pizza is too damm high !
Pizza is a good thing , yet to much of a good thing can be a bad thing !
Man can not sustain on PIZZA alone , No Man is a Pizza , you know what I mean ?
She probably didnt want anyone to think that she as communications director had anything to do with his idiotic "blacks are brainwashed" comment.
Maybe she found a pubic hair on her coke can too?
The House at 999 Cain Lane is in the process of crumbling.
It's hard to write copy for a right-wing African American in the Republican Party. These folks pretty much hate everybody and a black man is little more than a token to "prove" they haven't worked to ruin President Obama's initiatives because they are racists. Right. Just look at the photos of any Tea Party gathering – angry white bigots who find something to hate in every aspect of our government. They hate Michelle Obama... how could that be?
Cain doesn't seem to be able to take advantage of what he has. He won the Florida straw poll and didn't do anything with it. People are starting to see that he doesn't understand a campaign. These are the first signs. Cain won't make it because he has never run a campaign nor does he seen to think that he really needs that experience. Running for president needs experince; also needs an understanding when a campaign faulters or what it needs to keep running. That is the difference between business and politics. Cain won't get it.
I wonder if she was brainwashed, too!! Go peddle your pizzas Hermie, you're out of your league.
I dont blame her I would leave too anytime a candidate is going to say Africian American has been brainwashed by the Democratic Party I think he has bee brainwashed by the Republican Party. Get out and prusue other opportunity he's not going to be there anyway.
"Mr. Cain"...perfect example of a bloated ego presenting itself as confidence. Take a cold shower, Herman.
Cain will never last in the Republican Party It amazed me he would sign up to be part of a Party who is racist and has spent every day since President Obama was elected slandering him with racist lies, disrespecting him because he is biracial, and doing everything possible to make him seem not worthy, not legitimate, and other hate-based tactics.
President Obama is the ONLY one who has real family values and real Christian values. He is the ONLY one fighting for the PEOPLE, fighting for jobs, economic recovery, and equality for all. He is a brilliant man and has proven what a great leader he is. His list of accomplishments is long – both domestically and many great foreign policy successes.
Good lucl Herman – but you are with the wrong Party -one that will never let you advance.
This spells bad news for his campaign
Wow that's not nice in the middle of the campaign?I guess they don't think Cain will win.
The poor woman probably tired of talking about pizza.
THEY got to her. Last night she was BRAINWASHED!!!
Incredible that you don't mention his new spokesperson, former Rumsfeld spokesman JD Gordon. This guy is a big deal, yet you portray it in a fashion like the campaign must be falling apart.
The check bounced and getting paid is very personal.No comment means that Cain is dead like Bachmann, Ginrich and Rick Bush. The desperate GOBP are begging ANY warm body to run. Snooki Palin will ride in on her black horse to repeat 2008.
And so it begins. The descriptive interview above is one of the most thinly veiled "I'm outta here!!"" excuses on paper. Now you know something's ugly in that camp. Cain's win over Perry in Florida was probably too much for the Right Wing. Oh no. That will not do. Shocker. Convenient that shortly thereafter and seemingly for no particular reason, Sarah Palin gut punched Cain, by calling him "Herb". DO YOU REALLY THINK SHE CAME UP WITH THAT ON HER OWN? Don't count on it. Cain probably knows that too. And why right out of the blue? Not out of the blue. You can bet she was "loaded" with that "Herb" reference by her "friends who are not Washington insiders". With Cain's knees wobbling from that name callin' and for whatever the reason, Carmichael is now about to distance herself. I'm not certain that Mr Cain ever really believed he's a Tea Party favorite. He was just "brainwashed" by the Right.
She must have realized that Cain's upside down 666 plan was about as realistic as claiming the earth is flat.
CNdNc makes it sound like she's leaving due to some implosion. Notice there's no mention of the highly respected big gun coming in to take her place.