Herman Cain Dead, Former Presidential Candidate Dies From COVID-19

Herman Cain has died. The former United States presidential candidate died from complications related to COVID-19, according to a statement on his official website, Herman Cain. He was 74 years old.

“You’re never ready for the kind of news we are grappling with this morning. But we have no choice but to seek and find God’s strength and comfort to deal with it,” read the statement. “He’s entering the presence of the Savior he’s served as an associate minister at Antioch Baptist Church in Atlanta for, and preparing for his reward.”

Cain Entered The Hospital In Early July For Treatment Of COVID-19

Cain was hospitalized at an Atlanta-area hospital in early July after contracting the novel coronavirus, USA Today reported. He tested positive on June 29, which was nine days after he attended a campaign rally for President Donald Trump in Tulsa, Oklahoma. For nearly three weeks, there was no information about his condition and on July 27, his staff provided details of his health via his Twitter account. The update said the former presidential candidate had shown signs of recovery and was still receiving oxygen. While it noted his recovery would take some time, the tweet ended on a hopeful note.

As a stage 4 colon cancer survivor in his 70s, the businessman was among the higher-risk categories for complications from the virus. Cain received his cancer diagnosis in 2006 and doctors gave him a 30 percent chance of survival. However, he beat the long odds and defeated cancer in 2007 after receiving both chemotherapy and surgery as treatment.

According to the statement on his website, the one-time presidential hopeful’s family and staff chose not to provide detailed information on his battle with the illness because they did not think it was necessary. He had been healthy in recent years and his doctors were hopeful he would make a full recovery.

Cain Ran For President In The 2012 Election

The former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza entered the 2012 presidential election as a potential GOP candidate. CNN reported that he announced his candidacy on May 21, 2011. His run came after he lost in a 2004 United States Senate primary in Georgia, which was his only other political campaign. The businessman also famously argued against President Bill Clinton’s healthcare plan at a Kansas City, Missouri town hall in 1994.

During his presidential campaign, Cain released a memoir, This is Herman Cain! My Journey to the White House, in early October 2011. A key component of his platform was the proposed 9–9–9 tax plan and he performed well at debates. By late October, news surfaced that two female employees accused him of inappropriate behavior while he ran the National Restaurant Association. He denied the allegations, but the cases were settled and he eventually admitted he had been aware of at least one of the settlements.

By mid-November, the Secret Service began providing protection for him. However, he officially dropped out of the race on December 3, 2011. Republican Mitt Romney went on to win the GOP’s nomination. Ultimately, the U.S. reelected President Barack Obama in 2012.

Cain Started His Career In The Navy & Climbed The Ranks In Business

Cain grew up in Georgia and he received a degree in mathematics from Morehouse College. While he worked full-time as a civilian for the U.S. Department of the Navy, he also received a master’s degree in computer science from Purdue University.

“Many people don’t know about his years climbing the corporate ladder at Pillsbury, at Burger King and finally as CEO of Godfather’s Pizza,” read the statement on his website.

After completing his education, the businessman began working for Pillsbury in 1977 and he eventually became the vice president of the company. In the 1980s, he worked for Burger King, managing 400 stores in the Philadelphia area. The strong performances of the locations allowed him to serve as the CEO of Godfather’s pizza in the late 1980s.

Cain also served as the chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Omaha Branch. He also worked as CEO of the National Restaurant Association and for the Coca-Cola Company. Later in his life, he began writing for the North Star Writers Group and Newsmax. He also hosted a radio talk show and worked as a Fox News contributor.

“Herman had just started hosting a new show on Newsmax TV. He was so excited about it, and so pumped up about playing a role in the 2020 election campaign.”

However, he only got to host one show before his illness left him hospitalized.

Cain Enjoyed A 52-Year Marriage

Cain married his wife, Gloria, in 1968. The couple enjoyed a 52-year marriage that survived his foray into politics and allegations from multiple women about misconduct. When he ended his bid for president, he noted that his wife and his family came before politics.

He is survived by his wife, their two children, Melanie and Vincent, and several grandchildren. The statement on his website asked for prayers for the family and noted how much Cain loved them.