TULSA, Okla -- Status update: Yup, Herman Cain is still singing.
The grinning former presidential candidate on Monday treated Newt Gingrich supporters at a Tulsa pizza parlor to a booming rendition of "America the Beautiful" before launching into his case for the former speaker of the House.
"Even though I am no longer pursuing the position of president, I am still on a mission and that mission is to make sure that we get the right person in the White House and that person is former Speaker Newt Gingrich in order to help save America," he told the crowd of about 100. "That's why I am doing what I'm doing."
(Although the rally was held at a downtown Tulsa pizza joint, the onetime pie purveyor did not sample any of the goods.)
Heading into the Oklahoma primary, Cain joined former home state congressman J.C. Watts and Gingrich's daughter Jackie to promote the candidate's $2.50 gas plan. Watts predicted a primary struggle at least into May and said that Gingrich will continue to accumulate delegates after Super Tuesday.
"We think we're still in the hunt, and the voters are going to be good to us not just tomorrow but as we continue on," Watts said.
Cain, himself a longtime radio host, spoke briefly to NBC News after the event about the exodus of at least eight advertisers from Rush Limbaugh's radio show.
"They would have to make that call," Cain said. "I just know that advertisers make their decisions about who they want to support and not support, but I don't think it's going to hurt the Rush Limbaugh show."
Asked if Limbaugh's comments about Georgetown Law student Sandra Fluke, who has lobbied the Catholic university to cover birth control under its student insurance plans, had hurt the GOP, Cain offered a flat "no."
"No, I don't think they hurt the party because Rush Limbaugh is not running for anything, so I don't think they hurt the party at all," he said.
