Ex-prez candidate Cain killed by COVID

Corporate executive Herman Cain, who banked on his business know-how in a bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, died Thursday from coronavirus. He was 74.

Cain had tested positive for the disease and was hospitalized two weeks after attending President Trump’s controversial rally in Tulsa, Okla., though it was unclear whether he was infected there.

“Herman Cain — our boss, our friend, like a father to so many of us — has passed away,” a message posted on his official website said.

Cain, who helped organize the Oklahoma rally, was an ardent supporter of Trump, who expressed his condolences on Twitter, describing Cain as “a Powerful Voice of Freedom and all that is good.”

“Herman had an incredible career and was adored by everyone that ever met him, especially me,” Trump wrote. “He was a very special man, an American Patriot, and great friend.”

Though Cain’s 2012 campaign was a longshot, Cain had hoped to become the first Black politician to win the GOP nomination.

He gained a big boost in September 2011 when he won a straw poll vote in Florida, instantly becoming an alternative candidate for Republican voters concerned that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was not conservative enough.

Cain advocated a flat tax system which called for a 9% flat federal individual income tax rate, a 9% corporate tax rate, and a national sales tax of 9%.

“There are generally three kinds of people in the world,” Cain once wrote.” People who make things happen, people who watch things happen, and people who say, what in the heck happened.”

Romney, now a senator from Utah, won the nomination, but lost to President Barack Obama in the general election.

Cain rose to prominence as the CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, a national restaurant chain. Cain touted his business acumen and problemsolving skills in his bid for the nomination.

But his campaign soon fizzled after sexual harassment allegations, which he had denied.

In recent years, Cain served as co-chair of Black Voices for Trump.

“[Cain] lived the American Dream & was an inspiration to countless Georgians and Americans,” Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler tweeted Thursday. “My heart goes out to his family & loved ones; they are in our prayers during this very difficult time.”

Cain is survived by his wife Gloria, two children and four grandchildren.