Herman Cain's latest apparent outbreak of very poor wording occurred at a Michigan campaign stop where he remarked to a voter "How do you beat Obama?" and added the pun of "beat him with a Cain," according to multiple political reporters listening and tweeting at the same time. That's at least his second joke he probably regrets (after calling Nancy Pelosi "Princess Nancy" in the debate last night) in the last 24 hours. The "beat him with a Cain" sentiment, it should be noted, appears to have existed in Cain-supporting circles for a bit: there's already a bumper sticker of that phrase for sale on what looks like an unofficial, fan made Herman Cain 2012 online store.

Update: The Boston Globe's Matt Viser, one of the reporters observing the remark, also notes Cain's follow up response: "When asked why he used that term, which could be interpreted as racially insensitive, he said, 'Cain. Herman Cain. C-A-I-N. Do I have to connect all the dots for you?'"

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Erik Hayden