Former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux announced on Monday that he had won the backing of three Republican members of the Florida House of Representatives for his bid to challenge Democrat U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012.

LeMieux unveiled the backing of Rep. Rachel Burgin of Riverview, Rep. Debbie Mayfield of Vero Beach and Rep. Larry Metz of Eustis.

Toward the end of last week, some of the Republican hopefuls looking to challenge Democrat U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012 released their fundraising totals for the third quarter of 2011.

With businessman Herman Cain surging in polls at the state and national levels, some of his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination are starting to turn their fire toward him.

On Friday, Magellan Strategies/NH Journal released a poll of likely New Hampshire Republican primary voters that found that former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts was well ahead of the rest of the pack ofGOP presidential hopefuls in the first primary state.

Romney led the poll with 41 percent. Following his win in the Presidency 5 straw poll in Orlando last month, businessman Herman Cain continues to surge in the polls, placing second with 20 percent. U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas took third with 10 percent.

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, continuing his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, has launched a new television ad in which he talks about his opposition to abortion. The ad notes that Paul, who is a medical doctor, delivered more than 4,000 babies -- but also witnessed events that reinforced his pro-life principles.

Another national poll released Thursday found that businessman Herman Cain and former Gov. Mitt Romney were battling it out for the lead in the race for the Republican presidential nomination.

Former Gov. Gary Johnson of New Mexico, now running for the Republican presidential nomination, has released a new Web ad. In the ad, Johnsons team brings up their candidates record against taxes and takes a few good-humored shots at some of the other candidates.

Former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, one of the leading candidates for the Republican presidential nomination, took aim at President Barack Obama in a Web video released on Wednesday hitting the Democrat incumbent on trade. The video attacks Obama for doing little to protect American intellectual property -- especially from Chinese interests.

Businessman Herman Cain has surged past former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and Gov. Rick Perry to lead in a national poll unveiled late on Wednesday.

Cain topped the NBC/ Wall Street Journal poll with 27 percent followed by Romney with 23 percent and Perry with 16 percent. U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas took fourth place with 11 percent. Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich took fifth with 8 percent followed by U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann with 5 percent, former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah with 3 percent and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum with 1 percent.