Businessman Herman Cain -- who didn't attend the opening of his own state office last week and skipped out on an appearance in the Upstate earlier this week -- has surged to the front of the polls in the crucial S.C. GOP primary race.

A poll by the American Research Group of 600 S.C. voters -- taken last week and released today -- showed Cain with a 26-25 lead over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney among likely voters. Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who had a double-digit lead in the race just six weeks ago, was the only other candidate who polled in double-digits at 15 percent.

Other contenders include former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (8 percent), Rep. Ron Paul (7 percent) and Rep. Michele Bachmann (5 percent). Undecided voters accounted for 12 percent of those polled.

Romney's support remained at the same 25 percent of the ARG's poll from July. But Cain surged 15 percentage points ahead, apparently as Tea Party supporters fled Bachmann (who fell from 13 percent) and searched for alternatives for former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin (who had 16 percent support in July).

Of the 47 percent who identified themselves as a supporter of the Tea Party, Cain had overwhelming support at 35 percent. Perry and Romney polled at 16 percent and 15 percent, respectively.