COMMENTARY | Herman Cain has announced he is suspending his presidential campaign and has introduced a new website to continue his ideas, according to ABC News. As a political/business consultant, I see this as an attempt to try to slowly build more support for a run in the future. I see this as more damaging to the Republicans than if he had stayed in the race.
I believe Cain leaving the presidential race is good for Republicans in the short term as they are able to divide their support between the candidates who have a better chance of beating President Barack Obama. I also can see whichever candidate Cain supports gaining stronger numbers in the polls moving forward. This will help to strengthen the Republican Party as it will move the GOP closer to having a single candidate.
At the same time, note how Cain stated his "suspension" of the campaign. He did not say he was withdrawing or quitting. When you add in the fact of his future endorsement of a candidate, it means he is definitely out for the 2012 election. It does not mean he is out forever. My guess is he is eyeing a 2016 or 2020 bid for the White House.
During the interim, he will continue to try to build up support through his website and appearances around the U.S. I can't shake the idea of how Sarah Palin already tried to draw media attention to herself as she considered a run in the 2012 election. Instead of becoming a respected media personality, she became more of a reality star who could not be taken care of seriously. If Cain becomes the next Palin, I see negative results for the Republicans.
Can the GOP afford to have Cain become a reality character like Palin did? In the long run, can the Republicans afford to have another failed candidate gain celebrity status and become a mockery of what the party stands for? By continuing to stay in the eyes of the media, Cain continues to allow the media to scrutinize him and drag his name and his family through the mud. Eventually, I can hear a pundit asking of Cain, "Is this character the best the Republicans have to offer?"
