Gloria Cain stands by her man, but is it too little, too late?
theGRIO REPORT - Until now, Cain's wife of 43 years has been largely hidden on campaign trail. Even when she appeared alongside her husband when he announced his candidacy in May, she did not speak publicly...
After weeks of anticipation Gloria Cain has finally spoken out about the “inappropriate behavior” allegations against her husband.
“I’m thinking he would have to have a split personality to do the things that were said,” says Gloria Cain in an interview with Fox News host Greta Van Susteren which aired on Fox News Monday.
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Until now, Cain’s wife of 43 years has been largely hidden on campaign trail. Even when she appeared alongside her husband when he announced his candidacy in May, she did not speak publicly.
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But this time, Gloria Cain has come out fighting.
“You hear the graphic allegations and we know that would have been something that’s totally disrespectful of her as a woman,” she says in her first televised interview. “And I know the type of person he is. He totally respects women.”
Political analysts say it is clear Cain’s camp is on the offensive to “soften” the impact of the allegations that he sexually harassed women when he was head of the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s.
They say Gloria has come to the rescue to humanize Cain, persuade the public his family is behind him and get his campaign back on track.
“He hasn’t got many cards left to play,” says Jamal Simmons, a Democratic consultant based in Washington. “From what I’ve seen of the interview she seems like a big asset. For people who want to support Herman Cain, listening to Gloria Cain, may help them rationalize why they are in his camp.”
“First ladies and political wives are not the decisive factor but their presence is significant because people look at first ladies as a measure of their spouse’s character.” says Myra Gutin, a Rider University professor of communications and leading authority on American first ladies.
Still, Gutin says Mrs Cain has done too little too late.
“When someone is running for a job as important as President everyone wants to see their spouse,” says Gutin. “Gloria should have made her presence known earlier in the campaign trial and should have spoken out sooner when the allegations were first made. I don’t think this interview will make much difference now.”
Gloria Cain’s actions are not unusual. There are numerous examples of political wives defending husbands rocked by allegations of sexual misconduct, including first lady Hillary Clinton standing by Bill.
Those who know Mrs Cain say she is intensively private and though she shuns the political stage, shares a close bond with her husband of 43 years.
“There wouldn’t be a Herman Cain without Gloria,” said Matt Wylie Cain’s campaign manager from his 2004 Senate race in Georgia. “She was always there for him, always there to keep things together,” said Wylie in a recent interview with the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
The interview, which also shows footage of Cain’s two adult children (his daughter Melanie and son Vincent), firmly puts the entire family in the media spotlight.
“It’s hard to understand why Herman Cain didn’t bring out Gloria earlier on in the campaign trail,” says Simmons, acknowledging Mrs Cain’s unusually low profile. “But according to reports Gloria’s a Democrat so it may be that she supports her husband and not is politics.”
Recent Gallop polls suggest Cain’s campaign has lost support, particularly since the sexual allegations. According to a CNN national survey of Republicans released Monday, 14 percent back Cain, down 11 points from last month.
Republican Presidential candidate Herman Cain has vigorously denied he has ever acted inappropriately towards anyone. His former employers, the National Restaurant Association, have confirmed that one of Cain’s accusers received a cash settlement.
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