Herman Cain Edges Mitt Romney to Lead in South Carolina

Businessman Herman Cain continues to surge in polls and, according to a poll released on Tuesday morning, now leads in one of the key early primary states -- South Carolina. The Palmetto State, the first state to hold a primary in the South, has been instrumental in shaping the Republican presidential race for decades and, in recent years, has backed the winner of the nomination each time out.

Cain topped the American Research Group poll of likely South Carolina Republican primary voters with 26 percent, followed very closely by former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts in second with 25 percent. Gov. Rick Perry of Texas placed third with 15 percent.

The rest of the field trailed in single digits. Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich took 8 percent followed by U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas with 7 percent. U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota garnered 5 percent. Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania took 1 percent. Three former governors -- Jon Huntsman of Utah, Gary Johnson of New Mexico and Buddy Roemer of Louisiana -- took less than 1 percent.

The American Research Group poll of 600 likely South Carolina primary voters was taken from Oct. 5-10 and had a margin of error of +/- 4 percent.