Florida: Herman Cain Endorses George LeMieux for Senate

Former GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain endorsed former Sen. George LeMieux in the Florida Senate race. (Christina Bellantoni/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Former GOP presidential contender Herman Cain endorsed former Sen. George LeMieux (R) Friday night in his bid to return to the Senate.

“This is the type of person that we need in Washington, D.C.,” Cain said at a county Lincoln Day dinner. “People who are not afraid to challenge the establishment; people who are there to represent the people and not represent politics; people who understand that it’s time that we stop shuffling the chairs on the deck of the Titanic and start solving stuff.”

LeMieux faces an uphill battle in his bid for the GOP nomination against frontrunner Rep. Connie Mack IV.

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Club for Growth Announces Three Congressional Endorsements

The Club for Growth, the powerful pro-free-market group, endorsed three candidates for Congress today.

The club’s PAC gave its nod to Keith Rothfus, the GOP nominee in Pennsylvania’s 12th district against Rep. Mark Critz (D); Thomas Massie, a tea-party-affiliated candidate in the crowded GOP primary in Kentucky’s open 4th district; and state Sen. Ron Gould, taking on Rep. Paul Gosar and Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu in a competitive GOP primary in Arizona’s 4th district. Full story

Florida: Joe Garcia Mounts Bid Against Rep. David Rivera

Democrat Joe Garcia is mounting his third campaign to represent a Florida district today. (CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Miami Democrat Joe Garcia has taken that old aphorism — if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again — deeply to heart.

Today, Garcia will officially announce his Congressional campaign against embattled Rep. David Rivera (R). It will be Garcia’s third campaign for Congress in South Florida in as many cycles. He lost to Rivera in 2010 by more than 9 points. In 2008, Garcia lost to Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R) by just over 6 points. Full story

California: New Howard Berman Ad Features Betty White

Betty White, the 90-year-old actress starring in the hit TV show “Hot in Cleveland,” just waded into the hottest Congressional race in the San Fernando Valley.

White’s endorsement is featured prominently in an ad for Rep. Howard Berman, who is facing off against fellow Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman after redistricting. The spot stars White and her “Hot in Cleveland” co-star Wendie Malick, both of whom attest to Berman’s effectiveness in Congress — specifically citing his support for the humane treatment of animals and community safety.

“Thanks to Howard we have hundreds more police officers patrolling Valley streets,” Malick says. “And he has very nice blue eyes,” White adds.

Florida: Court Rules Against Democrats on Congressional Map

A Florida state circuit court ruled against a Democratic challenge to the state’s new Congressional map, denying a motion that the map violates the state constitution and declining to issue an injunction against the map.

The news comes hours after the Department of Justice greenlighted the GOP-drawn Congressional map. This, in effect, means that Democrats are probably stuck with the map passed by the GOP-controlled state Legislature earlier this year, which keeps most of the 19 Republican Members in comfortably safe districts. While Democrats could appeal the ruling to the state Supreme Court, legal observers believe it is probably too late to change the 2012 lines. Full story

California: Super PAC Drops $500,000 on TV for Howard Berman

(Scott J. Ferrell/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

The San Fernando Valley cable systems are reaping the benefits of what’s expected to be one of the most expensive House races ever.

A super PAC reportedly supporting California Rep. Howard Berman has purchased a half-million dollars in cable TV time for the next month, according to the campaign of Berman’s opponent, fellow Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman. The ad buy runs from May 2 to June 4. Full story

Justice Department Preclears Florida Congressional Map

The Justice Department today precleared Florida’s Congressional map, making the GOP-friendly lines enforceable law.

The new lines, passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature and signed into law by GOP Gov. Rick Scott, are likely to lead to Democrats picking up two to four seats in November. But the Florida delegation is almost certain to remain overwhelmingly Republican. The current House delegation includes 19 Republicans and six Democrats. Reapportionment granted Florida two new seats because of increases in population.

The 1965 Voting Rights Act requires the Justice Department or the federal court in Washington, D.C., to certify new Congressional maps before they can be enforced. Full story

Arizona: Jim DeMint Endorses Jeff Flake in Senate Primary

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint today endorsed Rep. Jeff Flake in the Arizona GOP Senate primary.

In a letter to his Senate Conservatives Fund, a political action committee dedicated to electing conservatives to the Senate, DeMint wrote that “nobody has done more to advance the cause of freedom than Jeff Flake.” Full story

South Carolina: Chad Prosser Up With TV Spot in 7th District

South Carolina Congressional candidate Chad Prosser, the former director of the state’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, is up with a new TV ad today.

“Chad Prosser is going to shake up Washington,” a male announcer says with a syrupy voice at the top of the ad. “A conservative businessman, Prosser used his private-sector experience to create jobs.”

Arizona: NRCC Releases Ad Slamming Barber

Updated 5 p.m. | The National Republican Congressional Committee upped its ante behind a new ad it is airing in the special election to replace former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D).

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DSCC Places First IE of ’12 Cycle in North Dakota

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has bought television air time in North Dakota to bolster former state Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp, a Democratic source confirmed this afternoon.

The DSCC has placed a buy worth about $76,000 that was set to run beginning Wednesday of this week through next Friday.

The DSCC’s spot becomes the first independent expenditure spot of the campaign from a national party committee and was placed specifically to answer an ad being run by Crossroads GPS, a Republican-aligned nonprofit affiliated with the American Crossroads super PAC.

Democrats have high hopes for Heitkamp, although Rep. Rick Berg (R) remains favored in the contest to succeed retiring Sen. Kent Conrad (D). Roll Call rates this contest as Leans Republican. However, a poll conducted for the North Dakota Democratic party had Heitkamp up 5 points over Berg.

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Between the Lines: Then There Was One

Kansas is now the only state in the country with an outstanding redistricting map.

New Hampshire’s new map became law on Monday when Gov. John Lynch (D) signed a bill passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature. Reps. Charles Bass and Frank Guinta ultimately agreed to the map after some earlier tension over moving voters between the two districts.  Both Congressmen are being targeted by Democrats in an effort to defeat them this cycle.

Indiana: Sarah Palin Backs Richard Mourdock for Senate

(Shira Toeplitz/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Updated | 5:41 p.m. BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Former GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin threw her support behind Treasurer Richard Mourdock’s (R) bid to unseat six-term Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) today.

It’s a rare endorsement this cycle from the former Alaska governor, who has been notably less aggressive with her Congressional endorsements than in 2010.

“I join commonsense conservatives in endorsing Richard Mourdock to be the next Senator from Indiana,” Palin wrote on her Facebook page. “Richard Mourdock is the conservative choice for Indiana. Senator Lugar’s 36 years of service as a Senator are appreciated, but it’s time for the torch to pass to conservative leadership in Washington that promises to rein in government spending now.”

Palin’s endorsement puts her at odds with her 2008 runningmate, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz). Lugar’s campaign started airing a radio advertisement this week touting McCain’s support in his own words.

“Indiana is fortunate to have a Senator like Dick Lugar,” McCain says in the radio spot. “Yet, some in Indiana are claiming Dick Lugar is [President Barack] Obama’s friend. That’s ridiculous. And I know it firsthand. Because I fight alongside him every day in the Senate. Dick Lugar is a patriot and a hero, and we need him in the United States Senate.”

Palin’s backing comes less than two weeks before the May 8 primary and after momentum has clearly shifted in Mourdock’s favor. During the last four weeks, national conservative groups, such as the Club for Growth, rallied to Mourdock’s campaign by buying millions in television advertisements on his behalf.

“I appreciate the support of Governor Palin and her endorsement of my campaign to bring conservative values to the U.S. Senate,” Mourdock said in a statement. “Her support will go a long way toward mobilizing conservatives to vote on May 8.”

California: Liberal Group Backs Lori Saldana in Competitive District

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee today will make its first endorsement in California this cycle, backing Lori Saldana in the 52nd district top-two primary.

Saldana, a former state Assemblywoman, and San Diego Port Commission Chairman Scott Peters are the two leading Democrats running to take on Rep. Brian Bilbray (R) in this San Diego district. They will all compete on June 5 to advance to the general election in one of several districts in the state Democrats hope to pick up. Full story

Blue Dogs Endorse Three More Candidates

The fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition will add three more candidates to its roster of endorsed candidates today, Roll Call has learned.

The Blue Dogs, who lost two Pennsylvania Members in Democratic primaries Tuesday, endorsed former state Rep. Dave Crooks in Indiana’s 8th district; former state Rep. Pam Gulleson in North Dakota’s at-large district; and former state Rep. Gary McDowell in Michigan’s 1st district.

“In Dave, Pam, and Gary, the Blue Dogs have added three impressive candidates with a strong commitment to fiscal responsibility and representing the commonsense center of American politics,” Blue Dog PAC co-chairman Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah) said in a statement. “Each of them brings unique backgrounds and experiences to the Blue Dogs, and we look forward to working with them in the our efforts to streamline government and encourage business growth and job creation.”

The Blue Dog PAC has endorsed eight other candidates this cycle: former Reps. Nick Lampson (Texas) and Charlie Wilson (Ohio) and Leonard Bembry (Fla.), Clark Hall (Ark.), Brendan Mullen (Ind.), Hayden Rogers (N.C.), Ted Vick (S.C.) and Rob Wallace (Okla.).