On the last day in the campaign office, he told the staff that he’d be back, so stay tuned, and everyone believed him. Most staffers had been on campaigns before and went on to many others, but when they get together, everyone says the same thing: There was nothing like working for Cain.

None of this means that a well-spoken, influential man can’t also be a sexual harasser. People often note that when Clinton spoke to them, it felt like they were the only people in the room. Obviously, charm doesn’t preclude inappropriate behavior.

With Cain, however, his electricity comes from his authenticity. People fall for him because he is so unpolished and real. He is a serious, solid man who speaks often of the importance of family and faith. He never seems as if he is selling a line or covering up his true self.