The meteoric rise of Herman Cain and his 9-9-9 plan continues, as the former Godfather's Pizza CEO is now the leading candidate in Iowa, according to recent polling numbers.

The Public Policy Polling poll, conducted Oct. 7-10, polled 311 probable Iowa caucusgoers and found that 30 percent would likely vote for Cain, the Atlanta businessman. Mitt Romney was second with 22 percent and Ron Paul rounded out the top three with 10 percent.

Herman Cain not only has the lead in Iowa, he also has far more committed supporters than Mitt Romney, said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. That doesn't mean his support will be lasting though -- just ask Michele Bachmann.

The latest numbers show the stark contrast between Cain's rise and the demise of Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann.

Perry was the leading candidate in Iowa after jumping into the race in August with 22 percent, but slipped all the way to 9 percent -- a major indictment of his slumping popularity and viability as a potential Republican nominee.

Part of the decline is attributed to Perry's stance on illegal immigration in Texas, which has turned off some of his ultra conservative Tea Party base.

Bachmann -- at one point the darling of Iowa -- dropped from 18 percent to 8 percent in this poll. Bachmann won the initial Iowa straw poll, but has been unable to capitalize on that win in recent weeks. The Minnesota congresswoman's campaign has lost all momentum and could be only a matter of time before she ends her pursuit of the White House -- especially if her campaign is running out of money, as rumored.

These numbers will be harked as a major victory for Cain, but also represent a bit of good news for Romney. Romney's camp has been angling to pair Bachmann, Perry, and other super conservatives against each other in order for the former Massachusetts governor to have a shot to win Iowa.

The declining popularity of Perry and Bachmann could give Romney an outside chance to win the Iowa caucus -- the first in the nation -- which would give him a lot of momentum and power to win the Republican Party nomination.

Romney's biggest threat is Perry due to the Texas governor's money, government experience, and strong base. Perry's large decline in Texas and in other polling states is fantastic news for Romney, as most don't think Cain can last in the long run without any formal government experience or tangible foreign policies.

Based on this poll, Romney would win a match-up against Perry, 46-37, but would lose to Cain by 10 percent.

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