At least four Republican senators have indicated they would not support former Republican presidential contender Herman Cain’s Federal Reserve Board nomination, several outlets noted Thursday, spelling trouble for Cain despite President Donald Trump’s assertion that he is considering him for an eventual nomination.
Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) was quoted by The Washington Post and Bloomberg News as saying “If I had to vote today, I couldn’t vote for Herman Cain.”
“The allegations that drove him from the presidential race are just so obviously serious,” Cramer said. “I’m not talking about his position on interest rates or anything like that, but the sexual harassment stuff. Until it’s better explained I couldn’t vote for him.”
“I don’t think Herman Cain would be confirmed by the Senate, and I think the president would be wise to nominate someone who is less partisan and more experienced in the world of economics,” Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) told Bloomberg Wednesday.
The reports said Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) also expressed opposition to Cain. The Wall Street Journal also named the four senators as opposing Cain.
Cain himself has expressed doubt at his chances of getting confirmed. In a video posted Friday and flagged by Reuters, he said “Whether or not I make it through this process, time will tell. Would I be disappointed if I don’t make it through this process? No. Would I be thrilled and honored if I make it through this process? Yes. That’s the bottom line.”
Trump told CNBC’s Eamon Javers a week ago that Cain was his pick for the next Fed Board opening. A week later, on Wednesday, he seemed less sure: “I like Herman Cain and Herman will make that determination,” Trump said.
Cain’s nomination would be an uphill battle, not least of all due to the multiple allegations of sexual harassment and assault made against him in 2012, when he was running for the Republican presidential nomination (and which Trump economic adviser Larry Kudlow minimized as “toxic” and political in a recent interview.) Cain has also advertised sketchy “moneymaking strategies” to his mailing list of followers.
