During his bid for the Republican presidential nomination earlier in the 2012 election cycle, businessman Herman Cain scored his greatest success when he won the Presidency 5 straw poll held by the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) in Orlando back in September. While Cain -- unlike all other previous winners of the straw poll -- did not go on to win the Republican nomination, he is continuing to play an active role in the politics of the Sunshine State.

By taking aim at the political establishment and calling for a simplified tax code, Cain, who has never held elected office, rocketed out of nowhere to upset Gov. Rick Perry of Texas at Presidency 5 and moved to the top of national polls. But, facing questions about extramarital affairs, Cain quickly faded in the race.

Since that time, Cain has attempted to remain active on the national scene and launched a new PAC to endorse candidates. While his pick for the Republican presidential nomination -- former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia -- has pulled out of the race, Cain hopes to continue his streak of political success in Florida.

Cain backed fellow restaurant executive Craig Miller who was running for the Republican nomination to challenge Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson back in January. Less than three weeks after Cain endorsed him, Miller announced that he was pulling out of the Senate primary to run for a new congressional district created after redistricting. Cain has remained behind Miller who faces a competitive fight for the Republican nomination.

Cain is now taking to the airwaves for Miller in a television ad launched in early May.

“I’m proud that Herman Cain has endorsed my candidacy for Congress,” Miller said in a statement. “He understands that to change Washington, it’s vital to send new blood. As a successful businessman with a record of job creation, I will work hard from day one to put our economy back on track.”
 
The new ad plays up Miller’s role in the private sector -- as does Cain.
 
“This year don’t just hope for change, vote for it. One of the ways we do that is by electing people like Craig Miller,” Cain says in the ad. “Help me send a businessman to Washington by electing Craig Miller. He gets it.”

This is not the only endorsement Cain has made in the Sunshine State in recent weeks. With Miller opting to run for Congress instead of the Senate, Cain jumped in at the end of April to back former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux to take on Nelson. While Cain may have left the Republican race dogged by questions of character, the LeMieux camp clearly thinks that the endorsement helps their candidate. Twice last week, the LeMieux team noted in emails to supporters that Cain was behind the former senator. Cain is not the only former presidential candidate to weigh in on the Senate race. U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota announced last week that she was backing U.S. Rep. Connie Mack to take on Nelson.

Cain also announced earlier in the month that conservative activist Joe Kaufman, who is running in the crowded Republican field looking to defeat U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, best known for chairing the Democratic National Committee (DNC), backed his 9-9-9 tax plan. 



Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.