And yet he would still beat Obama as of today in a head-to-head matchup.

(Politico) — Intriguing swing at Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain Monday, saying that he thought Cain’s 9-9-9 proposal would hurt the poor and the middle class.

The senior Obama adviser called Cain an “intriguing personality” on “Morning Joe,” but took a shot at the Republican candidate’s tax proposal, saying, “I think his plan deserves scrutiny. . . I don’t think it’s good for most Americans.”

“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.