A new CBS/New York Times poll shows former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain now leads former Massachusetts Governor and former frontrunner Mitt Romney by 4% in a nationwide poll released today. 

Cain was the favorite of 25% of the 1650 registered voters while Romney was the favorite of 21%.   Both were tied in the same poll given in early October.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has pulled into third position with 10%, Texas Congressman Ron Paul garnered 8%, and the front runner for a moment Texas Governor Rick Perry's support has eroded to 6% falling from his high of 23% in September's poll.  Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is just ahead of former former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum falling to 2% to their 1%.

From all news reports, Rick Perry is not going down without a fight as he has released his own flat tax plan of a 20% national sales tax to compete with Herman Cain's 9-9-9 plan.  Perry has also added newly reelected Lousianna Governor Bobby Jindal and former Presidential candidate Steve Forbes to his list of endorsements.   Forbes in particular is an important pick-up because of his stands on the flat tax.