Herman Cain’s campaign manager, Mark Block, of cigarette ad fame, just backed off his very public charge that Texas Governor Rick Perry’s campaign was responsible for this week’s stories about sexual harassment charges levied against Mr. Cain in the 1990’s.  Yesterday, Messrs. Block and Cain slammed Perry in separate television appearances, with Block calling for a national apology from Mr. Perry.  Less than 24 hours later, it’s “never mind.” 

It’s a real shame to see the Cain campaign disintegrate like this.  It desperately needs to regroup. And fast.  The sexual harassment story still has legs, long lanky ones perfectly shaped for headline writers.  If the Cain campaign can’t come out of its next huddle with crisp and clear answers, it might want to begin heading to the sidelines. This is becoming a carnival side-show in a critically important election season.