“I think you’ve got to add the 9-9-9 up, get to 27 percent, and that’s probably what poor and middle-class people will end up paying once the thing is implemented,” Axlerod said.

Despite the attention suddenly being heaped on the former Godfather’s Pizza CEO, Axelrod said Cain was not going to be a top-tier contender in the 2012 election.

“I think, when you look at the resources and when you look at the standing, that Perry and Romney are likely to be duking it out at some point here,” said Axlerod.