Cain Campaign In Troubled Waters

After a surge in popularity, Herman Cain’s Presidential campaign has hit a major obstacle: allegations of sexual harassment from the candidate’s tenure as the restaurant industry’s top lobbyist.

According to a report from Politico released Monday, Cain faced harassment charges from two former employees of the National Restaurant Association, who allege that the former Godfather’s Pizza CEO made inappropriate verbal and physical gestures. The employees, both women, apparently left the company with 5-figure settlement agreements.

The story comes at a critical point in Cain’s candidacy. The former businessman is scheduled to make two high-profile appearances in Washington, D.C. Monday in what was likely a move from the campaign to counter establishment critics that have doubted Cain’s electability.

In a statement sent out to various media outlets, Cain’s campaign spokesperson J.D. Gordon described the story as a series of “unsubstantiated personal attacks” orchestrated from those who fear Cain is “shaking up the political landscape.”

Cain, who has hosted an unorthodox campaign, rocketed to top-tier status in the span of a little over a month. Since becoming the GOP’s top alternative to former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Cain has begun to face increased scrutiny, particularly over his 9-9-9 tax plan and a stream of verbal gaffes.

However, he has continually polled well, coming in at the top spot among Iowa voters in a survey released Monday by the Des Moines Register.