Kid Rock's Senate candidacy in Michigan is gaining GOP support

Musician Kid Rock said in July he was considering a run for the U.S. Senate in Michigan before backing off that idea a few weeks later (he even led in some polls).

With a few notable GOP endorsements, however, the Kid Rock for Senate campaign might have new life.

Former New York Gov. George Pataki tweeted Tuesday that Kid Rock (given name Robert James Ritchie) is the kind of candidate the Republican Party needs.

Pataki's endorsement comes on the heels of strong interest by Steven Law, the president of the Senate Leadership Fund (a Republican PAC), according to CNN.

"We'd be actually very interested in his candidacy," Law said Friday to C-SPAN. "I certainly wouldn't count him out."

Law said his interest is based on more than Kid Rock's celebrity. He cited a record of philanthropic and business dealings in Michigan as promising indicators of what the musician could accomplish in government.

"The truth of the matter is he's done a lot in his home state, philanthropically," Law said. "He's a pretty smart guy, he thinks about policy and he is a shrewd businessman. He hasn't stayed this long in the business he has been in by actually living the life that he looks like he lives on stage. I certainly wouldn't count him out and we'd be pretty interested in his candidacy. If you are watching, Kid, we hope you run."

Even as Kid Rock downplayed his Senate ambitions in July, his statement left the door open for a potential change of heart.

"If I decide to throw my hat in the ring for US Senate, believe me... it's game on," he said in a statement.

If he decides to run, Kid Rock would be seeking to replace incumbent Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow.

Kid Rock is a public supporter of President Donald Trump, and he performed at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland.

Despite the growing buzz and legitimate support around Kid Rock's potential Senate run, the artist himself has not publicly declared his intentions to run, nor has he completed any of the procedural filings necessary to become an official candidate.

As of Aug. 15, his website, kidrockforsenate.com, emphasizes Kid Rock's intention to aid in voter registration and raise funds for that cause.

"Since the announcement, the media has speculated this was a ploy to sell shirts or promote something," the website reads. "I can tell you, I have no problem selling Kid Rock shirts and yes, I absolutely will use this media circus to sell/promote whatever I damn well please (many other politicians are doing the same thing, they just feed you a bunch of bulls*** about it). But either way, money raised at this time through the sale of merchandise associated with this very possible campaign will go towards our 'register to vote' efforts."

If Kid Rock secures a spot on the ballot, he might not be able to use his stage name. That could have an impact on any potential celebrity advantage his music career might give him.