IOWA CITY — New accusations and a week of scrutiny surrounding allegations of sexual harassment against retired Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain have bolstered his supporters in Iowa.
The general mood during a church luncheon Thursday in Ottumwa was "disgust that this has been this big of an issue," not concern about his credibility, Wapello County Republican Chairwoman Trudy Caviness told IowaPolitics.com.
Caviness said Cain built a firm base of support when he toured the Iowa counties before the Ames Straw Poll, practicing retail politics and touting his business background. Despite Cain's absence from the state — he has only returned twice since the Aug. 13 — his supporters remain committed.
Cedar Falls tea party activist Judd Saul said Iowans see pressure on Cain as "the establishment" doing everything they can to bring down the "non-establishment" candidate.
Instead of crumbling since Politico broke the story that two former employees of Cain accused him of sexual harassment when he was CEO of the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s, the Iowa campaign has been flooded with renewed support, said State Communications Director Lisa Lockwood.
"The phone is ringing more," she said. "We've got more walk-ins and volunteers. There are people wandering in and wanting to help. I think we had about 15 or 20 volunteers in this morning, during work hours."
Lockwood said on Thursday afternoon that Facebook "likes" of Cain's campaign page have increased 103.8 percent during the past 48 hours.
The campaign has denied allegations, saying Cain, who has been married to his wife, Gloria, for 43 years, never has sexually harassed anyone.
Cain also has accused the campaign of Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a rival for the GOP nomination for president, of being behind the allegations. In particular, he noted that a former aide, Curt Anderson, signed on with the Perry campaign shortly before the allegations surfaced.
But new fuel was thrown on the flames in Iowa when conservative syndicated radio host Steve Deace alleged that Cain made awkward and inappropriate comments to the staff in his Iowa studio.
On Thursday he listed a number of reasons for voters here to doubt the ordained Baptist minister.
"Herman Cain should've lost his credibility with Iowa conservatives a long time ago when he failed to take a definitive stand for life, said he wouldn't defend marriage, backed the unconstitutional (Troubled Asset Rep Relief Program) bailouts, would introduce a new tax without repealing the old one, and that he would negotiate with terrorists," Deace told IowaPolitics.com.
He declined to offer further details on the events that took place in his studio.
Iowa County Republican Chairwoman Alice DeRycke said Cain's handling of the allegations "was not the best," and some may be starting to question his candidacy.
Cain initially denied knowledge of a settlement with one woman alleging sexual harassment, but then he said he knew about an agreement between the restaurant advocacy association and the woman.
DeRycke said such backtracking means "your credibility plummets."
Those close to the Iowa campaign denied allegations of inappropriate behavior on the trail.
"I've seen him in some very, very tense conversations with evangelical Christian leaders and business people in Iowa, and I think Herman has over and over again exhibited nothing but a professional posture in working with people," said Charlie Gruschow, Cain's former state campaign director.
Gruschow, who volunteered with Cain in Iowa from July to December 2010, before becoming a temporary member of his staff through the end of June, said he considers the Republican candidate to be "a man of impeccable character" and believes accusers are trying to smear him because he's taken the lead.
Cain supporter and Pottawattamie County GOP Chairman Jeff Jorgensen said news of the allegations initially made him "sick to his stomach," but he believes the candidate has not sexually harassed anyone.
Jorgensen said Cain's reaction is "just proof that Herman's not a politician. He's kind of responding a little bit like we all would respond, trying to keep ahead of the story."
"I don't think it's going to hurt Herman's campaign at all in the end," he said. "I think it's going to be a big plus for him, if it turns out to be a proven smear campaign."
Hannah Hess covers government and politics for IowaPolitics.com, which is owned by the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity.
