Businessman, radio host, former chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, and former United States Senate candidate Herman Cain of Georgia began a campaign for the 2012 Republican Party nomination for President of the United States shortly after the 2010 midterm elections. Although he was frequently mentioned as a possible candidate, Cain stopped short of a full-fledged candidacy before the beginning of 2011. Although he was characterized as "inexperienced",[8] and a Washington outsider, as of October 19, 2011, polls showed him to be one of the front runners in the Republican primaries.[9] Cain spent a considerable amount of time campaigning throughout the early primary states (particularly Iowa and New Hampshire) for most of 2010. Nearly two weeks after the beginning of the year, Cain filed his organization with the Federal Elections Commission as an exploratory committee, under the name Friends of Herman Cain. Cain is a supporte! r of the Tea Party movement and the gold standard.[10] Contents 1 The campaign 1.1 Exploratory committee 1.2 Official announcement 1.3 Campaign progress 1.3.1 Dark horse 1.3.2 Building momentum 1.3.3 Top-tier 1.3.4 Front-runner 1.4 Controversies 1.4.1 Legality of campaign funding 1.4.2 Sexual harassment claims 2 Political positions 2.1 Economic issues 2.2 Foreign policy 2.3 Education 2.4 Global Warming 2.5 Health Care 2.6 Immigration 2.7 Energy and the environment 2.8 Occupy Wall Street 2.9 Social issues 2.9.1 Islam and American Muslims 2.9.2 Affirmative action 2.9.3 Abortion 2.9.4 Gay and lesbian issues 3 Media coverage and reactions 4 Presidential campaign staff 5 Endorsements 5.1 Elected officials 5.2 Others 6 Trivia 7 References 8 External links [edit] The campaign [edit] Exploratory committee Following the 2010 midterm elections, Cain announced his intentions to run for president in December 2010, stating that there is a 70% chance that he would attempt to seek the off! ice.[11] Following the New Year, Cain announced on January 12,! 2011, o n Your World with Neil Cavuto, that he had officially formed an exploratory committee, in order for him to travel and raise funds more effectively for a presidential run.[12] [edit] Official announcement Cain formally announced his candidacy on May 21, 2011 in Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, Georgia to a crowd of 15,000 cheering supporters.[13] [edit] Campaign progress [edit] Dark horse Cain speaking at the Ames Straw Poll in August 2011