Cain Launches 9-9-9 Radio Defense as Perry Plans Speech on U.S. Flat Tax

Cain’s first-person appeal for his plan is to begin on Rush Limbaugh’s talk radio program, according to a statement from the former pizza executive’s campaign, and is designed to help his upstart bid recruit supporters and raise money in Iowa, site of the nation’s first presidential caucuses set for Jan. 3.

The ad follows criticism of Cain’s plan to scrap the tax code and create 9 percent income, business and sales taxes. Cain’s Republican rivals argue it could open the door to higher taxes overall, and an independent analysis found the 9-9-9 plan would cut taxes for wealthier Americans while raising them for middle-income earners.

Steve Grubbs, hired last week as Cain’s Iowa chairman, said advertising on Limbaugh’s show — which airs on the state’s two largest radio stations — “will support our renewed efforts to line up precinct captains in 1,500 locations across the state and help us raise the critical donations we need.”

The Cain campaign also is creating a website to defend the plan.

Perry in a speech tomorrow at a plastics manufacturing company in Gray Court, South Carolina, is to unveil what he has described as a flat-tax proposal. He also is set to start a week-long ad campaign in parts of Iowa later this week.