(CNN) - Former Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain endorsed Newt Gingrich Saturday at an event in West Palm Beach, Florida.
"I hereby officially and enthusiastically endorse Newt Gingrich for president of the United States," Cain said during a meeting of the Palm Beach County Republican Party.
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Cain cited the former House speaker's "bold ideas" as the basis for his choice, saying Gingrich wasn't afraid to propose big ideas that would benefit the nation, even if they invited the ridicule of his rivals.
"There are many reasons, but one of the biggest reasons is that I know that Speaker Gingrich is a patriot," Cain said. "Speaker Gingrich is not afraid of bold ideas and I also know that Speaker Gingrich is running for president and going through this sausage grinder. I know what this sausage grinder is all about. I know that he is going through this sausage grinder because he cares about the future of the United States of America."
Appearing on CNN "Newsroom" after making his endorsement, Cain said Gingrich's platforms closely matched his own, including the 9-9-9 tax plan.
"When you find a candidate that basically is running still on the ideas and the ideologies that I was running on, along with him embracing 9-9-9, then it was a no-brainer and I thought that the timing was right," Cain said.
Gingrich said at the West Palm Beach event Saturday Cain's 9-9-9 plan would become part of the national conversation, but the candidate has not offically adopted the tax proposal as part of his platform.
While Cain enjoyed a spike in polls last fall, the impact of his endorsement is unclear. When he dropped out of the race in December, polls showed him toward the back of the pack of candidates. Asked on CNN Saturday how his endorsement would effect the race, Cain said he was more focused on guiding his remaining supporters.
"I don't care about where he stands in the polls," Cain said of Gingrich. "And whether my endorsement helps him or not, that's not the point. It's to let my supporters know that he is the closest to what I represented when I was still a candidate."
In a statement, Gingrich applauded Cain as a fellow "big ideas" candidate,
“America’s challenges are too great for mere tinkering around the edges," Gingrich said. "Just like Herman, who ran his campaign based on big ideas, I am running on bold solutions that will boost job creation, cut bureaucratic red tape, and fundamentally transform Washington."
Cain also accepted Gingrich's invitation to co-chair the former speaker's Tax Reform and Economic Growth Advisory Council, according to the release.
Cain ended his bid for the 2012 GOP nomination in early December after battling allegations of past sexual harassment. Cain attracted attention and followers for aggressively promoting his "9-9-9" tax plan, as well as for his charismatic personality and appeal among tea party activists.
Gingrich also received the backing of former presidential candidate Rick Perry after the Texas governor dropped out of the race ahead of the South Carolina primary earlier this month.
Also see:
Romney: Gingrich debates complaints like 'Goldilocks'
From CNN Politics
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Birds of a feather flock together. Both treat woman without respect
Birds of a feather, and all that.
O no its all over now!! what is Romney going to do now?
Herman Cain stopped being relevant a while ago. He carries about as much influence as Todd Palin.
2 candidates
4 wives
34 hoochies
Cain and Todd Palin...heavy hitters. I guess all that philandering endeared Newt to Herman.
Figures, one cheater supports the other cheater!! Some conservative values!!
poor grinch, first the endorsement of palins and now from cain! he is doomed
Oh for the luvofbleepin' pizza,
I AM NOT coo-coo-for-koo-koo-puffs! So, I hereby,' officially and enthusiastically' denounce pizza; Cain's alleged patriotism; and his narcisisism.
I just wish that he will truly understand the meaning of ... 'sssshhhhuuuush!' '15 minutes' is enough, already.
jlg
great. one idiot endorses another thanks for the headline
I am sure he also has the koch brothers support as well.
Cheaters stick together...
So Palin and Cain, two major political posers, have endorsed the Newt. Excellent.
The longer Gingrich stays in the race, the more dirt he and Romney will dig up about each other, convincing even more moderates and independents that neither is worthy of becoming POTUS.
He's morals may well match Newt's as well.
Newt the hoot and his mistress Callistras. lol. Now Cain's on the Newt train. No surprise. BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER.
Dumb and Dumber
The only viable candidate is Ron Paul.
ROFL ...those 2 deserve each other!
Cain endorsing Gingrich.....both have had extra-marital affairs.....no wonder ppl say "Birds of a feather flock together."
Cain will make Gringrich looks bad. He will lost quickly because of him.
Romney has almost the entire Republican leadership endorsing him and the Newt has Palin and Cain. That pretty much says it all right there.
Another good reason not to vote for Newt.
Todd Palin and Herman Cain endorsements, and Sarah Palin as a defender. WOW
Ya, Cain & Gingrich are like minded all right. A serial womanizer backing a serial adulterer. That is the best the Christian right can come out with. Why on earth the GOP can side step good men like Santorum and Romney for a womanizer and now a serial adulterer and still call themselves a party standing for moral and family values? Conservative evangelicals are hypocrites to come out & claim they stand for family values. What sort of example or role model they try to put into the White House for their children if Gingrich is their nominee?
Go Newt!
These attacks on Newt are not coming from just the "establishment Republicans" as Sarah keeps suggesting. They are coming from the voters who are concerned about the direction our country is heading. For the good of the party many republicans kept their mouths shut about Newt's flaws. After seeing the true Newt in action many of them have decided speak out. Now a lot of republicans have started to put their country first and have shifted their support to a candidate that has the qualites we need to lead our country out of the mess we are in. "Great leadership is a product of great character. This is why character matters."