Herman Cain will deliver the Tea Party's response to President Obama's State of the Union address on Tuesday, January 24.
"Herman Cain has been a steadfast advocate for the values of the Tea Party and the practical solutions needed to solve the problems that face our nation," Tea Party Express Chief Strategist Sal Russo said in a release Thursday. "Americans want straight talk and honest solutions, and Herman Cain will deliver a pro-growth message strongly and clearly."
The White House has not outlined policy proposals that the president intends to make in the address, according to the AP. Obama will follow up the speech with stops in five battleground states.
Cain dropped out of the Republican presidential race in December 2011 and has since been touting his "Solutions Revolution" with a bus tour and a new website.
By delivering the Tea Party State of the Union response, the former CEO of Godfather's Pizza is following in the footsteps of another former Republican presidential hopeful. Michele Bachmann delivered the Tea Party response to Obama's 2011 State of the Union address.
On Thursday, Cain endorsed an "unconventional candidate" for president during the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in Charleston, S.C. "My unconventional endorsement is the people," Cain said. "We the people are still in charge of this country, and I am endorsing we the people!"