Herman Cain’s presidential campaign was responding to claims of inappropriate sexual behavior head-on Monday by promoting a response on Twitter.
On Sunday, Politico broke a story about two women who claimed the businessman-turned-politician made “sexually suggestive” advances toward them in the early 90s when he was president of the National Restaurant Association. The story went on to report that a financial deal was made for the two women to leave the association and remain silent about their claims.
After the story broke Sunday, the Cain campaign was playing defense. That including paying for a promoted message on Twitter. At about 7:30 pm Sunday, the Cain campaign tweeted: “From Team HC: Sadly we’ve seen this movie played out before. Mr. Cain and all Americans deserve better http://bit.ly/uU0j7a”
The tweet directed viewers to a story from the Washington Examiner which included a statement from the Cain campaign. The statement said the allegations was the work of “Inside the Beltway media.”
“Dredging up thinly sourced allegations stemming from Mr. Cain’s tenure as the Chief Executive Officer at the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s, political trade press are now casting aspersions on his character and spreading rumors that never stood up to the facts,” wrote Cain spokesman J.D. Gordon, according to the Examiner.
The tweet promotion, which was paid for by Friends of Herman Cain, Inc., appeared as the top tweet whenever someone searched the candidates name. It was also clearly labeled as a promoted tweet, as required by Twitter.
The message was re-tweeted more than 400 times by early Monday afternoon and gathered a large response from Twitter users. The messages were a mix of disappointment and support.
“They are going to resort to name calling; just as you predicted. You will be in my prayers,” wrote Jacob M.
On Monday afternoon, the Cain camp promoted another tweet, promoting a video of the businessman’s appearance at the National Press Club.
The tweet came before NBC News reported that it had “confirmed that one woman received a settlement from the National Restaurant Association after complaining about inappropriate sexual conduct by Herman Cain.”
Twitter was immediately abuzz with those revelations.
Twitter began selling “promoted” political tweets earlier this fall and it has since been used by candidates, including Mitt Romney.
Photo by Gage Skidmore
