WASHINGTON—Radio talkshow host Herman Cain, who once ran the Godfather’s Pizza chain, announced Saturday his bid oust President Barack Obama from the White House in 2012.
“Just be to clear — I’m running for president of the United States and I’m not running for second,” Cain told a rapturous crowd at Atlanta, Georgia’s Centennial Olympic Park that responded by chanting “Herman! Herman! Herman!”
The 65-year-old businessman has never held public office, but said he was joining an already crowded Republican field of candidates after spending several months traveling around the country and meeting voters.
Despite his bid being dismissed as a long shot by commentators, including conservative ones, he has performed well at recent Republican events.
Popular social conservative Mike Huckabee has declared he won’t run and conservative star Sarah Palin has not indicated any presidential intentions so far, which could give Cain a standing chance.
He lost a previous race to gain public office, in 2004 for a US Senate seat in Georgia with about a quarter of the vote.
Cain was also an executive at Coca-Cola, Pillsbury and Burger King, and has served as chairman, president and chief executive of the National Restaurant Association.
He hosts “The Herman Cain Show” out of Atlanta and has been a fixture at rallies organized by the ultra-conservative Tea Party.