Cain lashes out

>>> today we hit the one-year mark until the presidential election. for the candidates, that's a equivalent of a nanosecond or lifetime depending which way the winds are blowing. for herman cain who has been facing a head wind of controversy over sexual harassment accusations, he had some more uncomfortable moments on the campaign trail last night. as he tried once again to get back on message. nbc's mike viqueira reports.

>> ladies and gentlemen , last question, please.

>> reporter: a combative herman cain lashing out at reporters last night in texas.

>> don't even go there.

>> can i ask my question?

>> no.

>> may i ask a good question?

>> where is my chief of staff.

>> right here.

>> please send him the journalistic code of ethics .

>> will do.

>> reporter: overruling pleas from aides, cain addressed allegations of sexual harassment , but only long enough to insist it would be the last time he did.

>> what i'm saying is this, we are -- we are getting back on message.

>> thank you, mr. cain .

>> end of story. back on message. read all of the other accounts. read all of the other accounts, where everything has been answered in a story. we're getting back on message, okay?

>> reporter: the exchange came after a low key debate between cain and newt gingrich , where talk of scandal was off limits. and health care policy was among the agreed upon topics.

>> what we have to do is unravel the system with market driven ideas, such as those located in hr-3400.

>> reporter: cain only alluded to the controversy near the end of the session.

>> what has been the biggest surprise to you out of this whole experience?

>> running for president?

>> yeah.

>> the nitpickiness of the media.

>> how are you?

>> reporter: but now it is cain 's rivals that are taking aim. michele bachmann attacked cain when asked about the controversy's impact on the race.

>> well, people are looking for an adult in the room.

>> reporter: and she accused cain of switching positions on core gop issues.

>> everyone loves him. who doesn't? he has a great personality. but this is the leader of the free world that we're talking about.

>> reporter: and today on "meet the press," another rival, jon huntsman , urged cain to put all his cards on the table.

>> it has got to come out in total. legitimate questions have been raised and that nvg hinformation has to come forward.

>> reporter: inspite of the controversy or because of it the cain campaign reports since the story broke a week ago they raise 2d million in donations. compare that to the three months of the third quarter when they raised a total of $2.8 million. lester?