Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. December 03, 2011 Cain Suspends Bid for US Presidency VOA News Photo: AP Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain announces he is suspending his campaign as his wife Gloria, left, looks on, Atlanta, Georgia, December, 3, 2011. U.S. Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain has suspended his campaign following allegations of sexual harassment and infidelity. Cain announced the suspension of his presidential bid at an event Saturday in Atlanta, the capital of his home state of Georgia. He called the accusations against him "false" and "unproved" and told supporters they have hurt his wife and family and "distracted" his ability to present solutions to the American people. Cain's wife appeared with him on stage. Saturday's event was originally scheduled to mark the opening of the former pizzaexecutive's new campaign headquarters. Cain shot to the top of the public opinion polls in September and October but saw a drop in support after several women came forward accusing him of sexual harassment. In the most recent allegation, a Georgia woman claimed she and Cain had a 13-year affair.Cain has said he gave money to the women, without his wife's knowledge, to help her pay bills. On Friday, he met with his wife to discuss the situation. In addition to the sex scandals, Cain also had some awkward moments on foreign policy, including a fumbled answer when asked to comment on U.S. President Barack Obama's policy on Libya. Cain's struggles have cleared the way for former Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich to surge ahead in opinion polls, surpassing even former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. The first voting in the Republican primary campaign begins on January 3rd with the Iowa caucuses. Cain came from a working class family: his mother was a cleaning woman and his father worked as a janitor and as a chauffeur, among other jobs. He earned a degree in mathematics from a the prominent, historically black Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia and went on to earn a graduate degree in computer science at prestigious Purdue University in 1971. He went into business analysis, first for the Coca-Cola Company and later for the Pillsbury Company where Cain was put in charge of a foundering subsidiary, the Godfather's Pizza restaurant chain. By closing some restaurants and laying off workers, Cain brought the chain back to profitability. Cain later became CEO of the trade organization National Restaurant Association, which lobbies for the restaurant industry. Cain has attempted several political races, none of them successfully. He made a brief try for the Republican nomination for president in 2000 and competed for a U.S. Senate seat representing the state of Georgia, but did not make it through the primary elections. He earned a degree in mathematics from a the prominent, historically black Morehouse College ((www.morehouse.edu)) in Atlanta, Georgia and went on to earn a graduate degree in computer science at prestigious Purdue University ((http://www.purdue.edu/)) in 1971. He went into business analysis, first for the Coca-Cola Company and later for the Pillsbury Company where Cain was put in charge of a foundering subsidiary - the Godfather's Pizza restaurant chain. By closing some restaurants and laying off workers, Cain brought the chain back to profitability. Cain later became CEO of the trade organization National Restaurant Association, ((http://www.restaurant.org/)) which lobbies for the restaurant industry. Cain has attempted several political races, none of them successfully. He made a brief try for the Republican nomination for president in 2000 and competed for a U.S. Senate seat representing the state of Georgia, but did not make it through the primary elections. This year, as a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, Cain's central selling point was his controversial "9-9-9" plan. He proposed replacing the current tax code with a 9 percent tax on business transactions, 9 percent personal income tax, and 9 percent federal sales tax. As a black conservative Republican, Cain stood out in the race this year for the party's presidential nomination. He surged in opinion polls in September and October, following solid performances in political debates. But Cain's campaign was marred by allegations that he sexually harassed several women while head of the National Restaurant Association. And in late November, a woman told the news media she had a 13-year affair with Cain and that he gave her money. Cain has denied all allegations of sexual misconduct and says he gave money to the woman, unbeknownst to his wife, to help her pay bills. In an effort to boost Cain's flagging approval ratings among women, Cain's wife Gloria recently started a 'Women for Herman Cain' web site ((http://www.hermancain.com/wfhc)). The site said it was 'dedicated to helping elect Herman Cain as the next President of the United States.'Cain came from a working class family: his mother was a cleaning woman and his father worked as a janitor and as a chauffeur, among other jobs.He earned a degree in mathematics from a the prominent, historically black Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia and went on to earn a graduate degree in computer science at prestigious Purdue University in 1971.went into business analysis, first for the Coca-Cola Company and later for the Pillsbury Company where Cain was put in charge of a foundering subsidiary, the Godfather's Pizza restaurant chain. By closing some restaurants and laying off workers, Cain brought the chain back to profitability.Cain later became CEO of the trade organization National Restaurant Association, which lobbies for the restaurant industry.has attempted several political races, none of them successfully. He made a brief try for the Republican nomination for president in 2000 and competed for a U.S. Senate seat representing the state of Georgia, but did not make it through the primary elections. Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters. .