GOP candidate Cain to be protected by Secret Service

The U.S. Secret Service said Thursday that it will put Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain under its protection. The former CEO of Godfather's Pizza will be the first Republican presidential hopeful to receive protection from the federal law enforcement agency, which is tasked with ensuring the safety of current and former national leaders and their families, such as the president. "(Homeland Security) Secretary (Janet) Napolitano at the request of the Cain campaign consulted with congressional advisory committee which today authorized protection for Cain," George Ogilvy, a spokesman for the Secret Service, told ABC News. It's unclear why Cain asked for such protection. The Secret Service normally provides protection to "major presidential and vice presidential candidates and their spouses within 120 days of a general presidential election," according to the agency's website. While Cain is getting protection earlier, it's not unprecedented. President Barack Obama received protection in May 2007, 18 months before the general election.