“Herman Cain has been making phone calls to individual supporters to ask for their advice on how to proceed in the presidential race.

“Those calls come in addition to the conference call his campaign held Tuesday morning, on which Cain told a large group of listeners that he is ‘reassessing’ his plans for the 2012 campaign.”

“As you probably heard yesterday, a troubled Atlanta business woman used national media outlets to promulgate a fabricated, unsubstantiated story about a 13 year affair with me. I am writing you today to assure you that this woman’s story is completely false…

“[N]ow I am asking for your friendship. I am also asking for your prayers and support. This is a trying time for my family, my campaign, and for me. It is also a trying time for our country as we are all distracted from the truly important issues facing our nation.

“This evening I have an important speaking engagement at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, where I will be outlining my foreign policy and national security plan. While recent events have taken a toll on me, the people in the audience this evening will not know it. I will deliver my message with vigor and enthusiasm.

“Let me assure you, I am not deterred. America’s future is too important. We will continue on this journey to make America great once again.”

“A growing number of prominent conservatives are abandoning Herman Cain, saying a Georgia woman’s claim that she had a 13-year affair with the Republican candidate has effectively doomed his presidential bid…

“‘The allegation is one that could upend his presidential campaign,’ Huckabee said in a Fox News interview. ‘Unlike the harassment charges, which he denied, he said this was a private answer. In essence, he may have given an answer that will be very difficult for him to work himself out of.’

“Conservative radio host Laura Ingraham – who initially called the disclosure that Cain had been accused of harassment an attempt to ‘put this man in … the back of the bus’ – said on Fox Tuesday that the 2012 race had ‘passed him by.’

“‘The campaign seems to have passed Herman Cain by, right? He’s slipped precipitously in pretty much every poll,’ Ingraham said, adding that Cain ‘never really set up the kind of organization’ needed to win the Republican presidential nomination.”

“The latest twist in the Herman Cain campaign saga is an abrupt cancellation of a private New York City dinner with some high-profile members of the media, according to a report by NY1.

“The network reported that the former Godfather’s Pizza CEO now running for the Republican nomination for President was supposed to meet with guests, including Barbara Walters, Matt Lauer, Bill O’Reilly, Lesley Stahl, Sen. Chuck Schumer and Greta Van Susteren at the Park Avenue apartment of New York Post columnist Cindy Adams this Sunday…

“Political analyst Hank Sheinkopf said it doesn’t even matter if the allegations are true or false because they have become a distraction that Cain cannot overcome.

“‘It makes it impossible for him to continue because the only thing he can answer is the allegations. He can’t talk about national policy. He can’t talk about his plans, the only thing he can talk about is sex,’ Sheinkopf told CBS 2′s Marcia Kramer.”

“Newt Gingrich stands to benefit if Herman Cain were to withdraw or lose support in the Republican presidential race, according to a Public Policy Poll released on Tuesday.

“Gingrich has a much better favorability rating with Cain supporters than does Mitt Romney. Seventy-three percent of Cain supporters view Gingrich favorably, while only 33 percent have a favorable view of Romney.

“Gingrich is also the consensus second choice among Cain voters, with 37 percent saying Gingrich would be their back-up to Cain, compared to 14 percent for Michele Bachmann, 13 percent for Romney, and 12 percent for Rick Perry.”

“Mr. Cain: you do NOT run for President in these times unless you are serious about it. It’s flat-out apparent now that you aren’t, weren’t, and never will be. A serious candidate would have released all the dirt on himself before any of it dripped-dripped-dripped out.

“But hey, you never thought that your con to sell your books would actually spark, did you? You never thought that good, decent, hard-working American people would actually believe what you said. Now here you are, trapped like a lying fly in amber, hoping to get the big brass ring without any other dirt coming out on you.

“All you are doing is playing your friends, your supporters, and some of my very good friends for your own fame and glory. And drinking parties. Yes – you drink like a fish, you flirt all over the place, and everyone who’s attended CPAC knows it. Nothing wrong with partying. Unless you lie about it. And try to deceive the public about it. If you want to be the American-Tea-Party Berlusconi, then be up front about it, don’t be a damned coward.

“You should be ashamed of yourself.”

“Lori Klein, an Arizona state Senator and Cain’s Arizona state chairman, told CBS News she stands by Cain.

“She says she has known him for 12 years and he’s ‘never been anything but a gentlemen – and I am not an unattractive woman.’

“Klein suggested that if Cain is innocent he should sue White for libel and went on to attack the media for digging up the allegations. She also said that in politics, ‘we want a virgin to do a hooker’s job.'”

“He’s unelectable.”

Skip ahead to 2:45.