Herman Cain 'hugged by sex accuser'

A woman who has accused Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain of groping her "hugged" and linked arms with him at a fundraising event only last month, it was claimed today.

Sharon Bialek claims Mr Cain "grabbed" her in a car in July 1997 after the pair had dinner in Washington. At the time Mr Cain was head of the National Restaurant Association and Ms Bialek claims she went to him for job advice.

But TV and radio presenter Amy Jacobson, an acquaintance of Ms Bialek, today said she saw the pair together in October. She told the New York Post: "She kind of threw her arms on [Cain]... She just went up and hugged him and put her arm under his arm and started talking to him very closely. It sort of looked flirtatious."

Former pizza firm boss Mr Cain, 65, has vowed not to give up his bid for the nomination, describing the claims as a "witch hunt".

Mr Cain said he did not recall Ms Bialek and vowed to fight the accusations from her and three other women.