(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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Imagine that I guess cheaters need to stick together. Never mind ethics violations. I am surprise that cain is endorsing someone who wants to meet wig the NAACP to teach black how to earn their money and not receive more welfare checks. I guess cain is okaynwigh newterman leroy sayingn that Spanish is the language ofnthe ghetto. Just another racist remark directed at another minority!
One adulterer backs another adulterer is what the headline should read,
He's a shoe-in, first Palin and now Cain.
Well I see Newt has another fellow ex-running partner Cain the cheater has endorsed another fellow wife cheater Newt G. Says alot doesn't it. I still would not vote for Nwet G. due to the fact I've been around for a long time and remember his record and his stupidity. Strange group he has, Cain and Palin which says alot right there.
Wow, Another Goofy endorses Pluto! What a great story! Yuck, yuk, yuk!
Herman who? How important can this clown's "endorsement" be if you have to REMIND us who he was.
And we still say, "Nein, nein, nein" to both of these GOP clowns.
.
Cain just wants to be the first black man on the moon.
you guys, republicans are wasting time, people know that you idiots are not even trustworthy, Bush, Reagan proved to be idiots...
Where is Bill Clinton endorsement?
Wow, now they can wife swap
A cheater and cheater ....way to go loser nation
It will be nice when Obama is re eleceted and these two buffons can get started on their nudest colony on the moon, and the only fight they will have is whether Godfathers or Dominos is the first to offer pizza delivery to the moon, I am certain Mitts will have the first bank account on the moon, but the pizza deleivery is still up for grabs
Just because you know 'business', doesn't mean you can govern. We need someone in office that knows how to deal with leaders of other countries and not just 'fire them'!
I also think it is dangerous to get a businessman to lead our country, because government is our only defense AGAINST the excesses of business. It is like hiring Hitler to command our army in WWII.
DAMN there goes the pokemon vote!!!!!!!
Gingrich-Cain? "Lock up your daughter, lock up your wife, lock your back door & run for your life!
Romney will cancel all regulations for industry and we will all choke on the pollution! No thanks!
For conservatives, it is time to admit defeat. According to the Miami Herald poll, Romney has 42% support, Gingrich has 31%, Santorum has 14%, and Paul has 6%. Without including Paul's supporters, there are enough conservatives to stop Romney (31+14=45), but not when they are split between Gingrich and Santorum. Oh well, for whatever it is worth, Obama leads Romney by 4 points in the Rasmussen poll.
This is too easy...
The Democrats are getting what they wanted, Romney the Closet Democrat. We no longer have a Conservative Party in America.
Who cares? One idiot endorsing another idiot middle-class hater. We already know that neither Newt nor Mitt can beat President Obama. Mute and Newt are fighting to see who hates Obama more. Obama is one of the greatest Presidents in American history
...and in other insignificant news....
Two casanovas looking out for each other. What a joke.
One reason Cain likes Newt is because they both like to have a lot of women lined up to replace their actual wives. These two adulterers are cut from the same cloth. Two pathetic excuses for human beings trying be big shots but their ideas are those coming from their puny runt minds.
Common on Dems! this is the endorsement everyone should cheer up! Is it not nice to see real conservatives and Teabaggers flock to Newt and we stay aside and watch the real circus between them and Mitt camp?????