The adviser says Cain plans on making his endorsement before the Iowa caucuses. Adviser says Cain may endorse Newt

A top adviser to Herman Cain says the former presidential candidate plans to endorse one of his ex-rivals, most likely New Gingrich, this month in order to have an impact before the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3.

“He wants to play ‘who to endorse’ for a while,” said the adviser, who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to speak bluntly. “Then he'll probably be endorsing somebody in a couple weeks — before the caucuses…. I'd say he's going to endorse Newt Gingrich,” the adviser said.


The two have a relationship that goes back to Gingrich’s tenure as Speaker of the House, when he appointed Cain to the National Commission on Economic Growth and Tax Reform Commission (known as the “Kemp Commission”), which reported in 1996.

The adviser said Cain would like to play a role in the campaign, and in a Republican administration if his party wins the White House.

“He can go into the African-American community, and there's a lot of African Americans who like Herman Cain,” the adviser said. “I've seen him in churches — this guy can preach. And he can represent the successful black businessmen.”’

A Cain endorsement would get heavy news coverage and would add to the momentum for Gingrich, who finished a clear first in separate polls of Iowa primary voters released this weekend by the Des Moines Register and NBC/Marist.

Gingrich plans to try to capitalize on the momentum this week with major policy speeches on the Middle East, and what an aide called “ways to break the cycle of poverty in inner cities.”

“Newt is winning on the power of his ideas and his willingness to offer substance,” the aides said. We will continue to offer substance this week … “We are rapidly growing the campaign's infrastructure to accommodate the surge of new interest. Look for some of Cain's infrastructure to move to Newt 2012. Also, ... the campaign [on Friday]announced 40 county chairs in South Carolina.”

Mitt Romney vowing to continue drawing contrasts with the insurgent Gingrich.

As for Gingrich, the aide said “[T]he campaign is staying positive about Newt's friends pursuing the nomination.”