Herman Cain has picked up a new endorsement in New Hampshire, who just might be able to help him unite the Tea Party activist vote: Former state GOP chair Jack Kimball, who was ousted from the job last month.
The endorsement came Wednesday afternoon, reports Josh McElveen from local TV station WMUR.
On the one hand, Kimball’s support could help Cain consolidate support among the Tea Partiers who had helped Kimball himself win the state GOP chairmanship. But on the other hand, Kimball also brings with him a tumultuous record from his service at the GOP, a position from which he was eventually forced out.
The state GOP had fundraising and personnel problems after Kimball took over, and also lost a number of special elections for the state legislature. In response, numerous state GOP leaders, including freshman Sen. Kelly Ayotte, called upon Kimball to resign. In response, Kimball alleged that state House Speaker William O’Brien approached him to convey a message from the Republican Governors Association that they would donate $100,000 to the state party — but only if Kimball resigned.
But despite his resistance, and his contention that he was the bridge between the state GOP establishment and the Tea Party movement, Kimball ultimately did resign — just as the state GOP executive board was about to formally vote to fire him.
