Herman Cain: I would be ahead of Obama

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GAINESVILLE, Fla., Sept. 21 (UPI) -- Former candidate Herman Cain, in Gainesville, Fla., on a college tour, said he would be poised to defeat President Obama if he was the Republican nominee.

Cain, who had a brief period as front-runner in a crowded Republican field, spoke to a crowd of about 300 Thursday night at the University of Florida, The Gainesville Sun reported. He has gone on the road on a "College Truth Tour."

The former Godfather Pizza CEO's talk combined lessons from his personal experiences with his plans for paying down the national debt and fixing the tax code. He concluded with a rendition of "Believe in Yourself" from "The Wiz."

"Stupid people are ruining America, and we've got to take it back," he said.

Cain ended his political campaign amid allegations of multiple affairs and sexual harassment. But he said he would have a "substantial lead" over Obama if he had won the GOP nomination.

"The reason is quite simple: I have some depth to my ideas," he said.

Cain said he has no interest in joining a Mitt Romney administration. Instead, he plans to join a group he often disparages, the mainstream media, as a replacement for retiring radio host Neal Boortz and possibly as a television presenter or pundit.

"If I can't convert them, I'm going to join them," he said.