'Cainwreck': Candidate recovers after Libya gaffe

Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain. Photo / AP

US Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain is trying to show that he understands national security and foreign policy issues, a day after stumbling when asked about Libya.

Cain told more than 200 people in northeastern Iowa that the U.S. needs to clarify its relationships with friends and enemies around the world and make sure to stand with its friends.

It was a clearer statement on foreign policy, more so than his attempt on Monday when he struggled to answer a question on whether he supported President Barack Obama's stance on Libya.

The exchange - labelled a 'Cainwreck' by some commentators - with the Georgia businessman came during a meeting with the editorial board of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Cain hesitated when asked whether he agreed with Obama's decision to back Libyan rebels in overthrowing Muammar Gaddafi. The longtime Libyan dictator was killed last month.

"I do not agree with the way he handled it for the following reason," Cain said in the videotaped interview.

"Uh, nope that's, that's a different one," said Cain, who fidgeted in his chair and crossed his legs.

"See, I got to go back, see, got all this stuff twirling around in my head. Specifically what are you asking me, did I agree or not disagree with Obama?"

Cain eventually explained that he would have done a better job than Obama assessing the nature of the Libyan opposition to Gaddafi. The Republican said he would have supported many of the steps taken to stop killings by Gaddafi's forces.

He conceded that might have ended up taking the same steps that Obama took.

Asked later about the exchange, Cain dismissed his stumble.

"I paused so I could gather my thoughts," Cain said.

Cain said he would have done a better job assessing the opposition to Gaddafi to make sure the rebels were not loyal to al-Qaida.

"After things erupted, now we discover that some of the members of the opposition were actually al-Qaida members," he told reporters in Green Bay. "That's not the proper due diligence in my opinion."

Check out the video of the interview here:

- AP