Over in Maryland, lieutenant governor and U.S. Senate candidate Michael Steele is turning out to be the mack daddy of endorsements in this election season.

Steele, a Republican, trails his opponent Rep. Ben Cardin in the polls. Still, he has enlisted some interesting - if unlikely - support this fall. His most recent fan to hit the campaign trail is none other than Mike Tyson, the outlawed boxer famous for a stunningly painful face tattoo and chomping off a piece of Evander Holyfield’s ear.

Michael Steele (Sacramento Bee)

Tyson’s support comes after music mogul Russell Simmons campaigned for Steele last month and on the heels of boxing promoter Don King’s stumping for Steele in Maryland the other day. Tyson reportedly wore a Steele campaign shirt while promoting his “Mike Tyson’s World Tour” in Ohio.

This may sound like a cheap ploy to lure black voters away from the Democrats. It turns out, however, that Tyson is Steele’s former brother-in-law. Tyson was married to Steele’s sister Monica Turner for five years before they divorced in 2003.

Steele’s people insist Tyson isn’t involved in the campaign. But Steele told the New York Times Magazine earlier this year that he would welcome Tyson’s help “in a heartbeat.”

Steele is widely recognized as an attractive candidate. But his “Scarlet R” in a blue state makes winning the open Senate seat an uphill battle. If he loses, maybe next time he can solicit T.O. on the stump?

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