Herman Cain Next to Meet With Donald Trump in GOP 'Rite of Passage'
Businessman Herman Cain, fresh off his Florida straw poll victory, is the next Republican presidential candidate in line to meet with business magnate Donald Trump. Romney, Perry, and Bachmann have all either met with Trump or will meet with the mogul this week.
"Yes, it's true," Cain tweeted Monday. "@THEHermanCain will sit down with @realdonaldtrump in NYC on October 3."
This has become something of a rite of passage for Republican presidential hopefuls, or rumored hopefuls, beginning with Trump's meeting with Sarah Palin in June over pizza in New York City.
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Both Palin and Trump gushed with praise for each other, as Palin described her admiration for the real estate mogul.
"I love his independence. I love anybody that is not run by a political machine, and will say what they want to say." Palin said.
Trump reciprocated with equally complimentary words: "She's a great woman and a terrific woman and a good friend . . . I’d love her to run [for President]."
Trump, who has also met with former Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee, explained that all of the GOP candidates have reached out to him for his support in their presidential campaigns.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry met with Trump in New York City two weeks ago, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney met with Trump Monday. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) reportedly will be meeting with Trump later this week.
In terms of Romney, there had been comments from the press indicating Romney’s unwillingness to have his meeting with Trump publically photographed.
However, Trump appeared to have harbored no ill-will, as he told Juana Summers of Politico, "Pictures were snapped, but they were snapped privately."
He then added, "We really had a great hour together. He expressed certain feelings that I didn't even know where he was coming from. I was impressed with certain things he said."
As for his take on the debate, the real estate mogul said, "I think the press is very very tough on [Perry] and some people could say he did okay. I don’t think he would disagree with the fact that he didn’t have the best of nights, certainly."
Trump has said he is still considering jumping into the race as a candidate himself and could run as an independent if he does not like the eventual nominee.
