Herman Cain draws packed crowd to Christian school in Ohio

CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio - Some 1,500 people squeezed into the basketball arena of this semi-rural community's Ohio Christian University campus Thursday night to hear Herman Cain talk about his presidential campaign and his evangelical faith.

"I don't know if I'm the leader that this nation needs at this particular point in our history, but I believe that God almighty knows," Cain said. "And if I am, it is in the hands of God almighty, not a party, not the media."

In a sign of the growing credibility of a candidate who has gone from single digits in the polls to challenge Mitt Romney's front runner status, Cain shared a stage with Ralph Reed, a longtime Republican strategist and former chairman of the Georgia Republican party. The Ohio chapter of Reed's Faith and Freedom Coalition organized the rally.

Outside, where his book was on sale, Cain told reporters he hasn't ruled out become a Fox News Show host "in the unlikely event I don't win the nomination or the presidency." Where the former pizza executive's true ambitions lie remains a subject of some speculation largely because of his unorthodox campaign schedule.

While his Republican rivals have been devoting most of their time to crucial early-voting states - Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada and Florida - Cain plans to spend Friday and Saturday barnstorming Tennessee.