The Hill News

Former New Hampshire Republican Party chairman Jack Kimball has endorsed Herman Cain, providing the former Godfather's Pizza CEO a foothold in New Hampshire. 

Kimball is a Tea Party novice who won the chairmanship in early 2011 but was forced to resign seven months later after party insiders criticized his fundraising and leadership abilities. 

Although Cain has found himself near the top of national polls, he trails Mitt Romney substantially in the Granite State and will need to corral Tea Party support to earn a respectable showing. The most recent poll from NBC News finds him tied for second place with Ron Paul, a full 32 percentage points behind Romney.

Cain came to New Hampshire in July to headline a fundraiser for Kimball, calling the then-chairman "my friend." But in September, Kimball resigned after what he called "tremendous pressure" and political "threats" from establishment Republicans.

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