Presidential hopeful Herman Cain, while controversial, has a possible chance of winning the Republican nomination.

“Many of the Muslims, they are not totally dedicated to this country,” GOP campaigner Herman Cain said in March. “They are not dedicated to our Constitution. Many of them are trying to force Sharia law on the people of this country.”

Prior to this defence, a reporter had asked Cain if he would appoint a Muslim to his administration if he were elected president of the US, to which Cain replied unequivocally, “No”.

While he later apologised to Muslims in the US for his inflammatory comments, this was not the only time Cain has made controversial statements.

While addressing a Tea Party crowd in Tennessee, Cain had this to say about his idea of building a fence along the US border with Mexico: “When I’m in charge… we [are] going to have a fence. It’s going to be 20 feet high [six metres]. It’s going to have barbed wire on the top. It’s going to be electrified. And there’s going to be a sign on the other side that says it will kill you.”

When questioned about these comments the following day, Cain claimed he was just joking.

Cain has also said that he might use US military troops “with real guns and real bullets” to stop intruders from entering the country, and his response to those who might consider his remarks insensitive, Cain blamed some of the immigrants.

“It’s insensitive for them to be killing our citizens, killing our border agents,” he said. “That’s what’s insensitive. And that mess has to stop.”

Nevertheless, a recent poll says Cain has taken the lead over former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney in the campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.

Read the full story at Al Jazeera English.