Black conservative seeks seat in Senate

The kind of black candidate that many conservatives dream of has entered the Republican primary for Georgia’s Senate seat in 2004.

Herman Cain is a pro-life Reaganite and the chairman of Godfather’s Pizza chain. He took over management of the once-troubled company, making it a success and finally buying it for $50 million from Pillsbury in 1988.

Most people outside the business world don’t know that Mr. Cain is also a former chairman of the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank, a regular on the motivational speaking circuit and the author of three books.

What’s more, he talks the Ronald Reagan talk that Republicans love to hear: “We need to unleash the full potential of the economy in order to create more opportunity for all people and all Georgians — it’s not a black and white thing,” Mr. Cain said.

Although he has entered the race late, most observers assume the Atlanta businessman can finance his own campaign.

But Mr. Cain is cagey on money matters. Asked how much of his own money he is willing to spend, Mr. Cain replied, “I’m not going to play the money card at this point. I’d rather keep them guessing.”

He also said, “‘Wealthy Atlanta businessman’ is a strong expression applied to me. I am financially secure. I don’t consider myself wealthy like Steve Forbes or Warren Buffett.”

Money aside, his timing may be off by a couple of years, some Republicans say.

“He looks like the ideal candidate to run as a Republican,” said Georgia Christian Coalition Chairman Sadie Fields. “From what I know about him, he is highly credentialed as a successful businessman, but I have heard nothing about him in the political arena until now.”

Mr. Cain did not touch base with state party leaders, the National Republican Senatorial Committee or the party’s real godfather, White House strategist Karl Rove, before jumping into the race.

“When he announced, nobody in the loop knew he was going to do it,” said a well-placed Georgia Republican. “He didn’t contact the party. But he does command a great deal of respect. So if he had started to talk to us early about running for statewide office in 2006 and given us an opportunity to know him, there would have been an opportunity for him to run and run legitimately.”

Still, a prominent Republican activist in the state said privately, “Electing a conservative black Republican would [severely hurt] Democrats in Georgia, but right now I doubt he can take the primary when two strong, experienced Republican officeholders are also running.”

Mr. Cain enters a primary field that includes another black Republican, Atlanta businessman Al Bartell, who ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor last year, and two white congressmen, Reps. Johnny Isakson and Mac Collins.

Some insiders identify Mr. Isakson as the secret choice of Mr. Rove and the White House political machine.

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