Cain is Able: Zogby Poll Puts Herman Cain at 45 Percent

"Cain appears to have won support of voters who previously supported Perry or Bachmann," writes Zogby. "Romney's 21% is the highest we have shown for him in match-ups with the current field of announced candidates."

Herman Cain (@THEHermanCain) tweeted his joy: "Team HC --Zogby Poll: Cain increases lead! http://tinyurl.com/3m2rk5x #tcot #Cain2012 #GOP2012"

Cain's numbers have been steadily increasing in recent weeks as the candidate gains traction and public approval. 

He went on NBC's "Meet the Press" to defend his 9-9-9 tax plan.

"Who will pay more? The people who spend more money on new goods," Cain told NBC as reported by the New York Post. "The sales tax only applies to people who buy new goods, not used goods. That's a big difference."

This plan would replace the entire current tax code with a 9-9-9 spread: a flat nine percent income tax, nine percent corporate tax and nine percent national sales tax.

Cain has become quite a social media phenomenon with his Herman Cain Pizza Jams trending on Twitter and a video of him singing an ode to pizza reported by the Daily Beast.

But this candidate certainly is no joke. He is a Republican with a plan.

"Why me and not Mitt Romney?" Cain said to NBC. "He has been more of a Wall Street executive. I have been more of a Main Street executive"