Herman Cain's Fed nomination is likely dead

Herman Cain's Federal Reserve board nomination looks to be dead in the water.

Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) on Thursday said he would oppose Cain's Fed nomination were a vote held today. Cramer expressed concern over accusations of sexual harassment against Cain during his 2012 presidential campaign, saying, "until it's better explained, I couldn't vote for him."

Cramer is the fourth Senate Republican to say he'd oppose Cain's nomination after Sens. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). Assuming every Democrat votes against Cain's nomination, and these four Republicans don't change their minds, Cain's nomination will fail.

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Technically, President Trump has yet to formally nominate Cain to the Federal Reserve board, although he announced his intention to do so. Trump told reporters Wednesday that Cain is "somebody I like a lot," adding, "I hope he does well." Congressional Republicans reportedly have privately urged Trump not to go forward with the nomination, arguing Cain is not qualified for the position and his selection would politicize the Federal Reserve.

Despite this Republican backlash, National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow, Trump's top economic adviser, told The Hill Thursday that the president continues to support Cain "at the moment."