GOP Senator Kevin Cramer is the latest lawmaker of his party to oppose the nomination of Herman Cain to join the board of the Federal Reserve.
Cramer said Thursday that “if I had to [vote] today, I would” not vote in favor of Cain, who has not yet been formally nominated.
Last week, President Donald Trump announced he would pick Cain to fill one of the two vacancies on the central bank’s board. Conservative economist and author Stephen Moore will likely be nominated to fill the other open seat, CNBC reports.
However, as Cramer is the fourth Republican to oppose Cain’s potential nomination, his chances of being confirmed by the Senate, should he be formally nominated by the President, are sinking. The other three senators who previously said they would vote against Cain are Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski, Cory Gardner of Colorado and Senator Mitt Romney.
Although the GOP holds control of the Senate, with only 53 Republicans and no support from Democrats, Cain can only count on 49 votes to confirm him, two votes short of the majority he needs.
Meanwhile, National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow told reporters that the White House was standing behind Cain, but its support appears to be waning.
“He’s in the vetting process, we will see how that turns out,” Kudlow added. “I don’t want to prejudge it one way or the other.”
Cain is a former Republican presidential candidate, who in December 2011 was forced to suspend his primary campaign after allegations of sexual harassment and assault against him emerged. One woman even claimed she had a 13-year-long extramarital affair with the former pizza executive.
As a result, Republicans are wary of backing Cain and having to publicly defend his if these allegations resurface.
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