Herman Cain, former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza and 2012 Republican presidential candidate, has passed away at the age of 74 because of Covid-19.

His obituary was shared on his personal Twitter account.

Although it is unclear where Cain contracted the virus, he has been hospitalized since early this month. Earlier this week, it became known that Cain was relying on a machine for breathing.

Dan Calabrese, who has been an editor of Cain’s presidential campaign page turned personal website since his campaign, said everyone around the former candidate knew that the fight against the virus will be uphill. Calabrese said this became clear when the initial medication proved futile.

What worsens the situation is that Cain was present in President Trump’s June 20 rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Cain participated in the event as one of the representatives from Black Voices for Trump. 8 staff members who scouted the location had also tested positive.

As can be seen from the picture above, Cain was seated in close proximity with other participants with none of them wearing facial covering. Many worried of massive infections because the campaign refused to mandate the use of facial coverings for the rally.

Acknowledging the speculations that connect Cain’s participation in the Tulsa rally with him contracting Covid-19, Calabrese argued that no one knows where Cain was exposed to the virus. The editor said Cain was constantly traveling before and after the rally.

In a tweet that now seems rather tragic, Cain had previously supported the President for not forcing the use of masks during Trump’s address at Mount Rushmore. The tweet in which he argued people were fed up with masks seems to have been deleted since then.

Cain’s messaging on the global pandemic has been mixed. Although he filmed one video which praised the effectiveness of masks in preventing the infection, he also promoted the usage of anti-malaria pills for treating Covid-19 against the judgment of many medical experts.

The former businessman was identified as someone of high-risk because of his medical history and age. Cain had previously survived a stage 4 colon cancer in 2006, despite being told he only had 30% chance of survival.

Regardless of his political positions, we send our thoughts to his wife Gloria, their two children and everyone who was dear to him. Join us in sending condolences to his loved ones.

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