Herman Cain: GOP Would Back Dr. Ben Carson for Presidential Run

Former presidential candidate Herman Cain says Dr. Ben Carson has what it takes to run for president and will get the Republican Party endorsement if he decides to seek the White House.

“He’ll get the support from the Republican Party if he runs and he makes it through the gauntlets to get into the nominating,’’ Cain told Newsmax TV.

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“He knows what he believes, he’s willing to defend it … and he loves this country.’’

But Carson, the director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, would have some serious preparation work do, Cain added.

“Does he have that fire yet? No … I would recommend that he talk to a number of people. Not just political professionals, not just political consultants,’’ he said.

“I would be happy to sit down and spend time with him … There are a lot of people he should talk to because there are some things, that if you don’t learn them from somebody who’s been through this sausage maker, you might miss.’’

Cain, a business executive and Tea Party activist, also suggested that Carson should use the power of prayer to help guide him if he throws his hat in the ring.

“He does believe in God, he and his wife Candy both. They are very spiritually, faith-driven people. So pray hard about it,’’ Cain said.

He said that even if Carson starts small, with a run for Congress or a state seat, he’ll get Republican backing.

“Whatever the case may be, he would get it,’’ Cain said.

As far as Cain’s own affiliations, it’s doubtful he will ever run as a Republican again, telling Newsmax TV that he does not want to be identified as a member of the GOP.

“When you wear the labels of a Republican, then you are challenged to defend the entire Republican brand and I can’t defend the entire Republican brand,’’ Cain said.

But he added that he still feels affiliated with the party, “the conservative part.’’

Cain believes that, in some ways, the GOP has become more of a coalition.

“A coalition of these different interests … And sometimes they compete against one another and sometimes they don’t agree with one another,’’ he said.

“So that is probably an accurate description — that it’s becoming more of a coalition. But what they have in common is that they are core conservative.’’