Romney Campaign Would Suffer If Cain Collapsed

Mitt Romney’s campaign is likely to feel the shock if the candidacy of Herman Cain collapses under the weight of the latest allegation of sexual impropriety. The former Massachusetts governor needs a viable Cain campaign to split the conservative vote, The Washington Post’s political blog The Fix reports.

Romney has been stagnant in the polls for months, being unable to win over conservative voters. The numbers suggest that his best path to the nomination is for conservatives to split their vote among several candidates, the Post reported.

Cain, who has been hit with allegations of sexual harassment, now faces a woman’s allegation that he carried on an extra-marital affair with for years before announcing for the presidency. Should his campaign collapse, the conservative vote may coalesce behind former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

That would be bad news for Romney who needs victories in Iowa and South Carolina. The Post reports that Gingrich has begun to go after Romney charging he is not conservative enough and not consistent.