Republican Presidential candidate Herman Cain campaigns in North Carolina Sunday, October 9, 2011 (11Alive)
ROCK HILL, S.C. -- Atlanta businessman and former local radio host Herman Cain is one of the hottest names in American politics.
The Washington Post tonight labels him the flavor of the month in Republican presidential politics. The polls have him rolling. One Republican strategist says it's become the "whack-a-mole" primary. He is all over national television and cable shows.
The Morehouse graduate who lives in Stockbridge is charismatic speaker who moves easily with people.
Can he keep this momentum rolling? Can he build a national campaign?
Sunday afternoon, 11Alive's Jeff Hullinger hit the campaign road and caught up with Cain outside of Charlotte.
Jeff Hullinger: Yesterday (Saturday) at the Values Voters Summit in Washington you said no more accommodation for minorities in the United States. Conversely, I read in the AJC this morning that Joe Lowery said you are being used and you're smart enough to know that. What do you say to Rev. Lowery, who says that of you?
Herman Cain: I have all the respect in the world for Rev. Lowery, but Rev. Lowery is dead wrong. If he knew me, he would know I wouldn't be used by anybody or any party. The reason Rev. Lowery and other black Democrats and other black liberals criticize me and name-call is because that's the only tactic they have in order to try and silence me. I have news for them -- it's not going to work.
The only time Cain stepped down all week is when he descended from his tour bus.
His Republican ascension is the talk of the country. Some polls have him tied with Mitt Romney for the top spot, and Zogby has him up 20 points on the field.
His new book is now the No. 7 bestseller on Amazon.com
JH: Are you surprised by all of this? Did you see it coming? This is an extraordinary time in your life. Quite frankly, nobody saw this coming, and I don't believe you did either.
HC: Here is what we saw coming: we have been building gradually in the entire campaign. We're not worried about being the flavor of the week or anything like that."
JH: Do you have the organization to take this the long run, to run in Iowa, New Hampshire and Super Tuesday? Are you in position to do that?
HC: We have a very targeted approach in all of the critical states. We have people on the ground, we have a lot of volunteers, we're building from the bottom up. Second, now that we have gotten this surge, we don't have any problem being able to hire good people."
Life is changing rapidly for candidate Cain, but not all of those changes have been positive.
A cable host with an aggresive interview accused Cain of being anti-black and a draft dodger.
JH: Are you prepared for what you are going to be facing?
HC: I'm prepared for that. As soon as I won the Florida straw poll, I had a giant bullseye on my back and they are taking their shots. My attitude is, take your best shot.
JH: A vice president all picked out for you?
HC: If it's the right person, I will consider it.
JH: Would you like to be vice president?
HC: If it's the right person, I would like to be vice president.
So for now, everything is by the book -- his book, available everywhere these days, much like his campaign bus.
"I never talked about wanting to be president when I grew up as a kid," Cain said. "As a matter of fact, in all honesty, I didn't consider the presidency until President Barack Obama took office. I couldn't stand it anymore."