U.S. Republican candidates who aspire to become the party's presidential nominee on Sunday courted supporters of Herman Cain, the Atlanta businessman who dropped out of the race just a day before, making him a potential "king maker."

U.S. Republican presidential contender Herman Cain announces on Saturday that he has decided to suspend his presidential campaign. [Xinhua/AFP]

Notable among the moves made by the candidates were that of Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, who has fallen to a second-tier candidate. She said on CNN's "State of the Union" that a lot of Cain supporters have been "calling our office and they've been coming over to our side." She likened herself to Cain as "an outsider" and that her message "would be the one that would be most reflective of his."

Bachmann also used her appearance on Fox News Sunday to describe herself as "the true Tea Party candidate."

Also speaking with the "State of the Union," U.S. Representative of Texas Ron Paul said that his campaign has been "paying a lot of attention" to where Cain's supporters would go.

Cain dropped out of the race on Saturday in face of a sexual harassment scandal and extramarital affairs, coupled with stumbling poll numbers and declining fundraising. The move came just one month ahead of the Iowa caucuses.

According to the latest Des Moines Register poll, Bachmann has only 8 percent support in Iowa, tied with Cain. The poll was conducted before Cain suspended his campaigning. Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker, led the poll, followed by Paul and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.

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