Why Are Cain’s Numbers Rising? GOP Voters Say Harassment Not Serious Issue

Herman Cain‘s popularity numbers continue to rise because GOP voters simply don’t care that he may or may not have harassed a half-dozen women. Which says a great deal about Republicans and Republican voters. In a just-released Washington Post/ABC News poll, Herman Cain essentially ties with Mitt Romney, among Americans who lean Republican, with Cain getting 23%, and Romney getting 24%. Cain actually jumped up 7 percentage points from one month earlier. (Rick Perry comes in third at 13%, followed by Newt Gingrich at 12%.)

But what is almost mind-boggling is the impact the sexual harassment allegations — now by up to six women — have had on Republican voters’ perception of Cain. None. Zero. Zip.

READ: Limbaugh Says Women Lie About Sexual Harassment, Invokes Tawana Brawley

The same poll finds 55% of those who lean Republican say they do not think this is a serious matter. 55%. Only 39% say it is serious.

Judson Phillips, perhaps one of the most extreme Tea Party leaders, writes today,

Most conservatives simply do not believe the stories. Why? The drive by media has had a huge double standard for years when dealing with political figures. Liberals got a pass on almost everything.

“So what about the allegations?,” Phillips asks.

Let’s assume for the moment, all of the allegations are true.  Let’s assume for the moment Herman Cain, back well over a decade ago, made some inappropriate comments to some women who were coworkers and let’s say just for the sake of argument that he even proposition one of those women as the New York Times claims.

Does that affect my favorable attitude towards Herman Cain?

No, it does not.

The Washington Post adds,

“I think [the charges against Cain are] mostly garbage that they throw at people who want to be president,” James Kindsch, from Middleton, Wis., said in a follow-up interview.

“I don’t believe it,” said Paul Bradley from Fishersville, Va., adding: “The further in the past they happened, the less accurate they are.”

A window into the mind of the Tea Party Republican voter: preach moral values, but don’t expect your top dog to have to abide by them.