(CNN) – A new poll shows more than half of Republican primary voters say allegations of sexual harassment against GOP presidential contender and businessman Herman Cain will not affect how they vote. But Cain's unfavorable rating across the country has almost doubled.
According to the NBC/Wall Street Journal survey, 54% of Republican primary voters said they were not concerned about voting for Cain because of accusations by three women of sexual harassment against him. The poll was taken before a fourth woman claimed Monday that Cain groped her when she visited him for what she thought was a conversation about a job.
Support for Cain's candidacy has risen in recent weeks as he and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney joust for the top spot in national surveys, but Cain's favorability has taken a hit.
One month ago 24% of Americans had a favorable opinion of the conservative radio talk show host and 18% had an unfavorable opinion. In the survey released Monday, Cain's unfavorable rating has risen to more than one-third for a total increase of 17 percentage points.
But only 13% of GOP primary voters said they were either a great deal or quite a bit concerned about voting for Cain because of the allegations of sexual harassment. Fifteen percent said they were "just a little" concerned.
The NBC/WSJ poll was conducted by telephone among 1,000 adults from Nov. 2-5. It has an overall sampling error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. The sampling error among GOP primary voters is plus or minus 6.2 percentage points.
On Monday Sharon Bialek, a fourth accuser, alleged that Cain sexually assaulted her in 1997. Bialek claimed the incident took place after she sought Cain's assistance in finding a job when Cain was serving as head of the National Restaurant Association.
Also see:
Cain scolds reporters: 'End of story' to sexual harassment claims
Yeah – more than half of the GOP votors dont care about those 'damily values' they claim to espouse... I think the poll is missing the real sentiment that they simply dont believe the accusations. Whatever. Some people also still believe that the president was born in Kenya. You cant fix stupid.
But what is telling here, and didnt get top billing in this article is this little gem: "...Cain's unfavorable rating has risen ...17 percentage points..."
So yeah, it doesnt matter to the deluded segment of the population who wont be convinced no matter what evidence is brought forward, but an increasing number of people have clued in about this guy, and recognize deceit when they see it.
Unfortuantely for Cain, that 54% will not elect him as President. This man has to realize that he's alienated more then half of the female voters in this country. Women will sometimes tolerate an affiar, like they did with Clinton, as long as it doesn't touch them personally and Clinton showed compassion toward the hurting. Cain is arrogant, self-centered, egocentric, cocky, cold, callous and mean – plus, women hate to be goped. Wives breathe fire if their husband's gope them at times, let alone a stranger.
I meant 'family values', but maybe it was a freudian slip...
Half of the tea bagging GOP is dumber than a box of rocks.
Sure, you'd like to see him become president, but would you leave your daughter alone with him? They need to put that question in the next poll.
This poll is hardly an endorsement of Cain, more of an indication that people are settling on a candidate. Don't read too much into this.
This says a lot about the mentality of the teavangelicals.
They don't believe it because Limbaugh, Hannity, Levine, and Ingraham says they don't. Add tuning to fox news and a few internet blogs and there you have it. Let them stay behind him, I say elect him for the nomination, that's how you show us left wingers.
I dare you to elect him.
So these family values that the republicans and tea party members tout as being so important to them really aren't all that important when there is a democrat they're trying to get out of office right?
You have to be a RepubliKlan to think like one I guess. They stand up for each other. Simple as apple pie.
Here's whats funny, Cain didn't do it even though he paid them off, and we've had several others come out the woodwork that says he did it numerous times, and had other employees say they actually saw it happen.
Micheal Jackson had the same thing happen to him, payed some off and was aquitted at trial.
So, it looks like Cain isn't a sexual harrasser and Micheal Jackson isn't a pedophile, do I have that right?
I mean people get paid to make it "go away" all the time right?
With Herb gone, it looks like the debate for republican candidate will be determined by Mittens debating himself. Mittens is capable of even losing that debate.
Teatrolls are remarkably like 2 year olds. When reality tells them "no" or "this is a bad idea" or contrary facts arise that disprove what they want to believe or suggesting that they sould maybe rethink a course of action, they essentially stomp their fit, dig in their heels, cover their ears and scream in a high pitched voice "lalalalalalalalala....I WANT IT I WANT IT I WANT IT....LALALALALALALALALALA." It all, amazingly enough, results in them becoming even more entrenched in said beliefs and desires...more insistent that their version of reality is correct and that reality itself just somehow hasn't caught on yet.
i'm not concerned with what he's done. He's just showing he's another "family values" Republican, (sarcasism). What does concern me is he doesn't know anything about foreign policy and has no idea how to run a country. He show a extreme lack of intelligence and is more arrangent than the last President we had before President Obama.
And to answer one comment – I wouldn't leave my daughter or femaile dog alone with this man.
I'd expect nothing less from the "do as I say, not as I do" republican party. Morals and ethics are for everyone else.
This has Karl Rove written all over it.
What's odd to me is he ran for the senate in Georgia...but none of these allegations came out. Now that's he is up in the polls...amazingly these folks show up?
Voice of Reason "I think the poll is missing the real sentiment that they simply dont believe the accusations."
Hardly the voice of reason. It's a shame that many still believe in that old fashioned burden of proof or due process. I'm not surprised that a liberal wouldn't recognize these terms. I suggest a trip to your local library to help educate you.
Are we surprised about this? These teapublikans love the drama and cheating scancdals. Airports, Appalachian/Argentina, mistresses' husbands being paid off.
It's like they feed on this stuff. The crazier the better to fatten their appetite.
Some how and some way, he will proclaim that God made him do it so it's ok. It's the Right wing crutch. God told me to do it and if it was wrong I will ask him to forgive my sins and he'll be good with it. I'm sure somewhere there has to be a love child hanging around. Maybe that will do him in. We can only hope.
Funny more than 1/2 GOP followers not concerned about Cain's misconduct but those same followers are concerned about a Women's right to choose or marriage equality. Hypocrates = GOP social conservatives.
There is little reason to be concerned about the sexual harassment allegations when his fiscal stupidity precludes him from consideration to begin with.
Repubs don't care about anything other than beating Obama. They would elect a 2×4 piece of lumber if they thought it had a chance of defeating the president.....no wait...they have a couple in Bachmann and Cain(lol)
Apparently, the lynch mob mentality has sent on the other news report about Mr. CAIN.
Sorry to see such behaviour from Americans. It's a disgrace to assume guilt before a conviction has occurred, more or any formal charges.
Anyone who ever thinks about running for the highest office on our land will have to re-think before making that big decision.
People want Obama so bad – they will attach anyone who stands in his bid for re-election.
And, if a Republican is behind this – LORD HELP US.
We have lost our dignity. Sad day in America.
Cain just dropped out of the race.
he is taking the Athletic Director's job at Penn State.
Said Cain – "It's a better fit for me, for fertile enviroment if you know what I mean"