“I have already identified two candidates — which I cannot give their names — to replace Mr. Bernanke, in anticipation of having that responsibility,” Cain said.

Goldman asked, “So you have two appointments waiting in the wings for…when [Bernanke's] term is up, 2014?”

“Yes, I have two candidates waiting in the wings,” Cain said.

“How about a hint?” Goldman asked.

“I’ve got to keep them confidential,” Cain said.

Why does Cain have to keep those names confidential? I asked Cain after the debate. “I just don’t want to compromise the identity of some of the people who are helping me, in terms of their existing business interests,” Cain said. “As so, as a result, I’m not going to break that confidence. If people want to beat me up because I’m not spilling my guts about who it is that’s helping me put these ideas together — beat me up.”