Onetime Republican presidential front-runner Herman Cain, plagued by harassment and affair claims, said Wednesday his character is being assassinated.
"They're attacking my character, my reputation and my name in order to try and bring me down, but you see I don't believe that America is going to let that happen," Cain told a group of 100 supporters in a West Chester, Ohio, hotel ballroom.
"I happen to believe that we the people are still in charge of this country."
The former Godfather's Pizza chief executive's campaign was set on its heels Monday when Ginger White of Atlanta came forward with allegations she and Cain had a 13-year affair.
Cain told ABC News Wednesday he is still "reassessing" whether to move forward with his presidential bid.
"We are reassessing as we speak. Reassessment means re-evaluation," he said.
"As the great philosopher Emeril Lagasse said, kick it up a notch," Cain told supporters, referencing the popular television chef.
"Stupid people are running America. I didn't go to political correctness school. � They've been trying to do character assassination on me. Some of them even predicted that this room would be empty today. I don't think I see any empty seats in here."
In a fundraising letter Tuesday, Cain called White a "troubled Atlanta businesswoman." He has acknowledged knowing White but has denied any impropriety.
"We can do this. We can do this," Cain said in his closing remarks Wednesday.
Source: UPI