Herman Cain, who has struggled to explain his foreign policy, also said in that Milwaukee Journal Sentinel interview yesterday that he offered Henry Kissinger to be his Secretary of State, if he's elected president.

Kissinger, who's 88, "turned down my offer," Cain said. "He said he's perfectly happy doing what he's doing."

During the height of the sexual misconduct scandal surrounding Cain earlier this month left Washington, D.C., where he had several events, to meet with Kissinger in New York City.

Cain said others he's spoken to, who he'd consider for his cabinet, include:

- K.T. McFarland, who worked at the Pentagon under Caspar Weinberger and who more recently lost badly to Hillary Clinton for Senate in 2006;
- Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC);
- John Bolton, the former Ambassador to the U.N.; and
- Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)

Cain said he "wholeheartedly supports" Paul Ryan's plan to phase out Medicare.

The paper has also published several other video excerpts, with topics including: collective bargaining, Occupy Wall Street, former President Bush's foreign policy, Iran, his experience, African-American support, support with women, campaign finance, his staff, and "ObamaCare".

Huffington Post first noted the Kissinger offer from the interview. More video here.

In light of Herman Cain's moment yesterday before a newspaper editorial board in which he had a difficult time coming up with an answer on whether he agreed or disagreed with President Obama on Libya, it's worth noting that he wrote a book in 1999 titled “Speak as a Leader: Develop the Better Speaker in You.” In that book, he offers advice about public speaking, particularly on how to handle media interviews.

In the sections about press interviews, he offers the following tips:

* Expect the unexpected question.
* There is no such thing as off the record.
* Think sound bites and plan some ahead of time if you know the topic to be discussed.
* Say it over and over.

He also suggests for those doing frequent interviews "a media training course…to learn effective communication techniques.”

“First, if you know the topic ahead of time," he writes, "plan the key points you want to make during the interview and be able to state those points in a variety of ways. If you will be doing frequent interviews with the press, then a media training course would be advisable in order to learn effective communication techniques. Second, there is no such thing as off the record. If you say it, then assume it might be used at some point. Third, expect the unexpected and be prepared to remain calm and professional.”

Responding to Herman Cain's shaky answer to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's question on Libya, his campaign said the candidate was operating on just four hours of sleep.

“The video is being taken out of context," said spokesman JD Gordon. "He was taking questions for about 30 to 40 minutes on four hours of sleep. He didn’t say anything wrong or in accurate; it just took him a while to recall the specifics of Libya.”

Gordon added, “It just took him a while to gain his bearings.”

The campaign's official position is that President Obama mishandled Libya, and that the Europeans should have taken the lead, since Libya is vital to their interests and not a vital interest to the United States. (However, that is what ultimately took place -- Europeans and NATO took the lead in military operations and assistance.)

The campaign also said there is concern that factions of Al Qaeda are part of the opposition leadership, and that the outcome of the conflict is still less than certain.

BEDFORD, NH -- Herman Cain will host a "major rally" on Thursday in New Hampshire, where "hundreds" are expected to attend, the campaign told NBC News this morning.

It will be Cain's first trip back to the Granite State since he filed his paperwork for the New Hampshire primary on Oct. 12.

According to New Hampshire operations director Charlie Spano, country music artist Buddy Jewell will open for Cain at the Alpine Grove banquet facility in Hollis, NH. The Georgian businessman is scheduled to speak at noon.

Jewell first rose to prominence in 2003 when he won the USA Network's "Nashville Star" contest. He is from Arkansas.

Cain also will stop to meet with voters at the Airport Diner in Manchester that morning.

Appearing on MSNBC's "Andrea Mitchell Reports" this afternoon, Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) had some choice words for GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain.

Clyburn said that Cain's remark at last night's Republican debate -- referring to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi as "Princess Nancy" -- was not only disrespectful, but ill-timed, given the recent sexual-harassment allegations against Cain.

"He ought to be very, very careful how he reacts to or treats women going forward, and that was a disrespectful comment about one of the outstanding women in our great country," Clyburn told NBC's Andrea Mitchell.

Clyburn went on to praise Pelosi’s work in Congress and dismissed Cain’s words as “unbecoming of a Southern gentleman”; Cain hails from Georgia. 

Last night, Cain said he regretted calling Pelosi "Princess Nancy."

KALAMAZOO, Mich., and WASHINGTON -- Herman Cain stayed defiant today, boasting that he and his presidential campaign are stronger than ever.

"You all don't know how encouraging this is," Cain said of the warm reception he received from about 300 supporters who packed an event here. "You know, over the past couple of weeks, it's probably not politically correct to say, but you know, I didn't take a political correctness class, so I'm going to say it. Over the last couple of weeks, I've been through hell. Now here's the good news: it didn't kill me or slow us down one bit. You wanna know why? The reason is because the reaction from supporters has been overwhelming."

Cain's campaign says it has raised $9 million since Oct. 1, doubling its entire third-quarter haul. $2.3 million came just in the last 10 days as he has fought to fend off multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.

"That's what this election is all about: taking back the American Dream, because it has been hijacked, and we want it back," Cain said. "Some of my staff say, 'Hijacking is a very strong word. You shouldn't say that.' Why shouldn't I say that? 'It's not politically correct.' Remember, I didn't go to political correctness school. That's not my forte. That's not my forte -- political correctness."

Cain came under more criticism during and following last night's debate for describing current House Minority Leader and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as "Princess Nancy." Cain apologized after the debate for making the comment, but when asked why he was apologizing, he said, "So you all could stop asking me about it, OK?"

Herman Cain's campaign said today it has raised $9 million since Oct. 1, doubling so far Cain's entire third-quarter haul.

A quarter of that money, about $2.3 million, came just in the last 10 days -- as he's been embroiled in a sexual-misconduct scandal.

There is no way to independently confirm the numbers until Jan. 15, when the campaigns are required to its fourth-quarter report with the Federal Election Commission.

Here's the Cain campaign's press release:

Herman Cain Campaign War Chest Skyrockets
 
Presidential candidate Herman Cain is "in it to win it," according to newly released financial numbers. The Herman Cain Campaign reports receiving over $9 million of financial support from Cain backers since October 1st. Twenty-five percent of these newly received contributions have come in the last ten days.

The generosity of Mr. Cain's followers has more than doubled in the past five weeks, compared to the financial gifts received in the previous two quarters combined. According to the campaign's third quarter FEC filing, Mr. Cain's campaign received $4.7 million from May through September 30th. The campaign has received a total of $14.1 million in financial support since the start of the campaign.

"Mr. Cain's vision to renew our country and create new jobs via his bold "9-9-9 Plan" is resonating across America," said Mark Block, Chief of Staff to the Herman Cain presidential campaign. "Mr. Cain's business experience and executive leadership is needed to put America back on the track to prosperity. Voters want to be part of the Cain Train so they are donating their time, talent and treasure to make sure Mr. Cain is our next president."

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Herman Cain released his first television ad of the presidential cycle today, not surprisingly, in the first-in-the-nation caucus state of Iowa. 

Unlike Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Texas Rep. Ron Paul, who have been running TV ads on local stations in Iowa, Cain’s 60-second ad began airing on cable -- FOX News Channel to be exact. 

"The new television ad is a result of the strong fundraising that has occurred over the last ten days," Steve Grubbs, Cain's Iowa chairman, told NBC News. "Our supporters are rallying to Herman Cain's defense and that means we will be able to take our message directly to voters."

The ad has three Iowa farmers and one former farmer discussing how EPA regulations are hurting their business amidst scenes of farmland and other Iowa landmarks. 

"Over-regulation is killing the American farmer. I think Herman Cain is the answer," retired farmer Dean Kleckner says in the ad.

Kleckner served 10 years as president of the Iowa Farm Bureau, 14 years as president of the American Farm Bureau, and on the U.S. Trade Advisory Committee under three presidents. 

"Herman Cain reminds me of Ronald Reagan and I knew Ronald Reagan. It is time to put the United back into the United States of America,” Kleckner continues in the ad.

This release comes in the middle of the sexual harassment allegations against Cain that have been in the news frequently.

Click here for a fact-check of the ad.

In Herman Cain's new TV ad in Iowa, the campaign presents farmers talking about the fear that the Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to regulate farm dust.

"The EPA wants to regulate dust on farmers," says one farmer in the ad. "You can't plow a field without dust. My dog makes dust."

But the EPA has been regulating "particulate matter," which includes dust, since 1971, when the Clean Air Act was passed. The agency proposed tightening restrictions on "particulate matter," but there is no new regulation going into effect.

The non-partisan FactCheck.org wrote the following on Sept. 23 after Cain made the claim at the Fox Orlando debate that the EPA had "gone wild" and was set to put in place the "new" regulation Jan. 1, 2012:

"The EPA is required by the Clean Air Act to periodically review the scientific information available on particulate matter to determine if changes are needed to the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Particulate Matter. That substance, which includes soil and dust particles, is considered to be a risk to public health, according to the EPA.

"Earlier this year, the EPA’s Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards released a report with its final recommendation that the agency move to tighten the restrictions on particulate matter that are currently in place. But the panel’s recommendations have been met with much opposition from farmers who say that increased regulations could hurt their industry. And several members of Congress have introduced legislation to block any attempt at implementing stricter limits.

"But, so far, the EPA has not decided to take any particular action on the panel’s recommendations.

"During congressional testimony back in March, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said that it was a 'mischaracterization' to claim that the 'EPA is attempting to expand regulation of dust from farms,' saying that the agency had 'no plans to do so.' Jackson had said that she would make a final determination this past July on what the EPA would do, but has yet to do so."

Politifact Georgia also wrote:

"The EPA has been regulating large particulate matter, including dust, for four decades, but does not single out farm dust or require monitoring in more rural areas."