Secret Service involved in Cain's security
Washington (CNN) – Presidential candidate Herman Cain will receive protection from the United States Secret Service, the agency confirms to CNN.
Cain asked for and is getting Secret Service protection because he has gotten an unspecified number of threats, sources inside the government told CNN on Friday.
Cain is the first Republican candidate in the 2012 election cycle to be placed under the protection of the federal law enforcement agency.
Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan confirmed that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano authorized Cain's protection after consultation with an advisory committee that consists of congressional leadership.
Donovan told CNN that the Cain campaign requested coverage, and the review found that it met the criteria.
Cain Campaign Spokesman J.D. Gordon confirmed that the Secret Service is providing additional security for the candidate.
"We are appreciative of the extra level of protection provided by these elite professionals," Gordon said.
While early, it is not unprecedented for the Secret Service to take over the security of a presidential candidate. In May 2007, then-Sen. Barack Obama, who was running for the Democratic nomination, was placed under Secret Service protection. It was the earliest a candidate for president had received protection from this law enforcement agency. At the time, another Democratic candidate, then-Sen. Hillary Clinton, was already under Secret Service protection because she was a former first lady.
Usually, the Secret Service begins protecting "major" candidates designated by an advisory committee, which consists of the congressional leadership, four months before the general election, according to guidelines outlined on the agency's website.
The Secret Service began protecting the president after President William McKinley was assassinated in the fall of 1901. The agency extended its protection to major presidential candidates following the assassination of Robert Kennedy in 1968.
A colossal waste of both money and effort.
The article may be inaccurate regarding when the U.S. Secret Service started protecting major political candidates. It said it began after the RFK assassination in 1968. I seem to recall it began after the attempt on the life of Alabama Gov. George Wallace who was running for president in 1972.
its probably because he's abused so many women. That doesn't sit well with the church. More tax dollars wasted, he should hire his own bodyguards he's rich enough.
What a waste of taxpayer money! Cain should withdraw immediately, especially since he was never a serious contender to begin with.
Cain needs protection from himself, but it's too late.
Wow, I would rather have the 'Madden Curse' than get SS protection. They don't exactly have a stellar track record.
WHY? Just one more example of the judicious use of tax dollars: the man has got no chance of getting the nomination, let alone being president.
Let's not waste the tax payers money on his protection ~ he can afford to pay for his own and should if he feels he is in harms way.
Another horrendous waste of Taxpayer money
Another waste of Taxpayer money
He is now going to need a bigger hat for that big head of his! Secret service???
The key word here is in the description of the Secret Services protection. It is meant for "major" candidates. Cain is not a major candidate and never will be...what a waste of taxpayer monies.
too bad he's not a "major candidate", except in his own mind...
Waste of money. Campaign contributions should pay for protection of candidates.
Before him, Obama needs strong security, and nation needs to watch all airports, seaports, land boarders, yesterday WH incident shows, depicts...
Just wondering if it was the accusers threatening him with any kind of weapons?
If he were true to his principles,he would pay for his own security.
He needs protection from people asking actual hardball questions but mainly he needs protection from himself.
WHY??? This is a total waste of taxpayers dollars. He is on his way out and I do not see him as a "Major" anything except fool. What a clown. He needs to go away.
I do not agree with any of this mans politics or his opinion of women but, if someone is threatening him....give him the protection he needs as long as he is running.
Obama/Biden 2012
My tax dollars are paying for this?
Cain will do anything for attention.
Maybe they are trying to protect Cain's mouth from his own foot?
will the Cain campaign be paying for this service i wonder? i mean after all... it would be the most conservative thing to do.
They'll protect him all the way to the bank.