US News

Debates raising Cain in voters’ eyes

WASHINGTON — Like a Hurri-Cain, Herman Cain’s presidential campaign has been gathering strength and rocking his opponents — while causing political pros to scrap some of their early forecasts for the GOP field.

Fueled by strong debate performances and his trademark quips, Cain has jumped to the top tier in several independent national polls, including pulling up to a dead heat with Mitt Romney in the latest CBS poll, tied at 17 percent, with Rick Perry trailing at 12 percent.

“Cain is getting the attention of voters who are frustrated with Perry and won’t support Romney,” said one GOP consultant, who said it was unlikely he would ever get the GOP nod because of his lack of campaign experience.

With New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie out of the race, Cain has more room to shine on the GOP stage. But he has had his commitment questioned by keeping his book-tour schedule for “This is Herman Cain!” rather than focusing on early primary states while his stock is high.

Cain kept up the fiery rhetoric that has drawn enthusiasm from Tea Party supporters in an interview with the Wall Street Journal yesterday, calling himself the only “non-politician” in the field.