Herman Cain refutes sexual harassment allegations

ATLANTA,None — Herman Cain is learning just how tough life can be when you're the GOP front-runner.

Cain spent much of the day answering questions about sexual harassment allegations made by two former female employees while he was the president of the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s.

Cain told a room full of reporters at the National Press Club luncheon in Washington that he was aware of the allegations but said they were not true.

"I told you this bull's-eye on my back has gotten much larger," Cain said. "I have no idea the source of this witch hunt, which is really what it is."

Cain also said he was unaware of any financial settlements made to his accusers.

"I am unaware of any settlement, but I hope it wasn't much, because I didn't do anything," Cain said.

Atlanta Tea Party Co-Founder Julianne Thompson told Channel 2's Richard Elliot that she's known Cain for years and doesn't believe the accusations. She believes the allegations are just an attempt to knock Cain off his perch as front runner. She also thinks they could actually help Cain's campaign.

"They're rallying behind him," Thompson said of Tea Party members. "I don't think it's going to affect him one little bit. In fact, I think you will see people rallying behind Herman, and you'll see his numbers probably go up."

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WSB political analyst and Insider Advantage CEO Matt Towery doesn't think the allegations are fatal to Cain's chances at becoming president. He compares them to similar allegations made against then-candidate Bill Clinton and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Both survived the ordeal.

"This is a good example of people will go to any measure and level to try and knock you down," Towey told Elliot. "That's presidential politics."

Towery thinks Cain has done a good job handling the situation so far, but is critical of the response made by Cain's staff.

"Right now, his biggest problem is that his campaign staff doesn't really know how to handle it," said Towery.

Elliot went by Cain's campaign headquarters in Stockbridge, but a staff member there said they had no comment and wanted to let Cain's statements speak for them.

WSBTV