Given that the most influential paper in New Hampshire already gave their endorsement to Newt, I’m not exactly sure why they felt the need to take time out of their busy day to let loose an additional broadside at Herman Cain, but that’s what they did. Of course, when your assasins come, they always hold out some flowers first to put a pleasant face on the event.

We have had the pleasure of sitting down with Herman Cain several times. We have found him smart, charming and warmly engaging. He is an impressive man who has shown that he has a lot to offer his country. We disagree with many of his policy ideas, particularly his famous “9-9-9” tax plan. But we are impressed with his life story and his determination to think for himself in the midst of enormous pressure to conform to other people’s ideas of what he should believe and how he should express it.

But watch out, Herman! They’ve got long knives behind their backs!

Cain simply hasn’t prepared himself adequately for the presidency. That combined with the fact that he said yesterday he would change nothing about his handling of the allegations of the past several weeks, and his assertion of a conspiracy theory that stretches credulity, show a lack of self-awareness that should give any supporter pause.

The latest set of poll numbers in the Granite State make such a pronouncement fairly irrelevant, as I see it. Cain’s numbers there have already tanked and Newt is out to a huge lead. But at least it gives us something to read while we wait for The Big Announcement which is expected later today in Georgia. A couple of outlets hint that they have inside sources and are already predicting that it will be the Cain swan song and the campaign will close. Others are claiming that Gloria Cain wants her husband to get out as well. But if we’ve learned anything about Herman Cain to date, it’s that he’s unpredictable.

Besides, as I’ve noted before, it’s difficult to imagine why Cain would walk away on December 3rd. Leaving now essentially admits defeat in the face of all the allegations, whether they prove to be true or not. By sticking around until at least the Iowa caucuses, his options improve. First, as we also previously noted, he would begin qualifying for federal matching funds next year which could potentially help him retire any campaign debt he may have accrued. Further, once people start voting, he could make a more graceful exit, saying that the forces arrayed against him had clearly poisoned the well and the people weren’t supporting him, so it only makes sense to get out.

Of course, he’ll probably turn around and surprise me yet again and do something entirely different. We should know in a few hours.