(Image Source: TMZ)

BY CHRISTINA HARTMAN

They won’t kick him while he’s down -- but analysts say Herman Cain’s Republican opponents are just waiting for him to self-destruct.

And his critics might not have to wait long. Monday afternoon a FOURTH accuser -- flanked by celebrity attorney Gloria Allred -- became the first alleged victim to speak to the public.

BIALEK: “He suddenly reached over and put his hand on my leg, under my skirt, and reached for my genitals. He also grabbed my head and brought it toward his crotch. Mr Cain said you want a job right?"

Video TMZ

Cain’s camp issued a quick denial -- saying  "all allegations of harassment … are false.”

Meanwhile, Cain’s still running relatively neck and neck in the polls with Mitt Romney. But Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank tells CNBC -- Romney’s starting to look pretty inevitable.

“I think that’s where we’re headed right now. Does it look very much like Romney. You know, Herman Cain will fall apart sooner or later, sort of like Berlusconi. We just don’t know exactly when his demise will come or how. But that will happen.”

As for Cain’s opponents -- save for a few not-so-pointed jabs from Michele Bachmann and Jon Huntsman --  Politico’s Alexander Burns says -- most don’t see a point in helping de-rail the Cain Train.

“Cain’s party rivals, meanwhile, don’t want to get on the wrong side of his passionate supporters ... but they’re happy to let a week’s worth of controversy take its toll… Party strategists have made plain that they consider attacking Cain the political equivalent of bayoneting the dead.”

That might not be totally off base --

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll found Cain’s favorability had dropped 9 points since the allegations were made public.

Not only that -- Reuters is reporting a majority of those surveyed -- 53 percent -- believe the allegations are true despite Cain’s repeated denials.

Also not helping Cain’s case -- many in the media seized on Cain’s seemingly evolving story as his campaign struggled to answer to the allegations in the days after the news broke.

“I have never sexually harassed anyone, anyone, and absolutely, these are false accusations.”
Video: Fox News

“The word ‘settlement’ versus the word ‘agreement,’ you know, I’m not sure what they called it. I know that there was some sort of agreement.”

Video: PBS

And over the weekend -- the campaign deflected reporters’ questions altogether -- saying it was going to quote - “get back on message.” On CBS, Republican strategist Ed Gillespie says -- don’t count Cain out yet.

ED GILLESPIE: “You know, he is an unconventional candidate but it’s an unconventional year. His response has been unconventional. But I think one of the things you’re seeing at least you’re not seeing yet is as much damage as you would expect in other years or with other campaigns.”