Sunshine State News is hitting the radio airwaves on Wednesday at 2:30 pm. I will be on the Ed Dean radio show which is hosted by one of the most feisty, informative and entertaining conservatives in Florida. It can be heard online here and on two stations in South Florida.

According to Public Policy Polling, a firm with connections to prominent national Democrats, businessman Herman Cain has jumped ahead of former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts to lead the pack of hopefuls for the Republican presidential nomination.

PPP released a national poll on Wednesday showing Cain with 30 percent and Romney trailing with 22 percent. Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich was barely leading Texas Gov. Rick Perry for third place, taking 15 percent with the governor of the Lone Star State right behind him at 14 percent.

Former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts announced the endorsements of prominent Republican leaders on Wednesday as the likes of former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert backed the front-runner for their partys presidential nomination.

Hastert -- along with longtime U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi, U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert of Illinois and former U.S. Rep. Susan Molinari of New York -- came out praising Romney on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, former U.S. Sen. Rick Sanorum of Pennsylvania named Mike Biundo, a veteran New Hampshire Republican operative as his national campaign manager.

Biundo, who had been very active in Pat Buchanans presidential bid in 1996 when the conservative commentator upset Bob Dole to win the nations first presidential primary in the Granite State, had been serving as Santorums political director, advising the former senator on New Hampshire politics.

Conservative activist Kim Kendall has filed to run against state Rep. Mike Weinstein, R-Orange Park, who currently represents parts of Clay, Duval and St. Johns counties. With Kendall living in the northern part of St. Johns County, there is talk that she may end up running for the seat currently held by retiring Rep. Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine, who represents parts of Clay, Flagler and St. Johns counties.

One of the big third-quarter fundraising winners in Tallahassee is Florida state Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Wellington, who represents parts of Charlotte, Glades, Hendry, Lee and Palm Beach counties. She raised more than $106,000 in the third quarter and kept most of it on hand -- spending just more than $2,000. Rep. Trudi Williams, R-Fort Myers, has filed to run against her as she looks to jump from the House to the Senate. Williams is hoping to be redistricted away from Benacquistos district, and her third quarter fundraising shows why.