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Casino mogul Adelson gives $5 million to pro-Gingrich super PAC
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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Updated: Jan. 8, 2012 | 7:28 a.m.
MANCHESTER, N.H. -- A Las Vegas billionaire has contributed $5 million to an independent group backing Newt Gingrich, breathing new life into the former House speaker's struggling campaign for the GOP presidential nomination and casting renewed attention on the role of such groups in the 2012 contest.
A person familiar with the development said Sheldon Adelson, a casino mogul and longtime donor to Republican candidates, made the contribution Friday to Winning Our Future, a super PAC run by Gingrich allies. The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity and was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said Adelson is expected to contribute as much or more to the candidate who eventually wins the Republican nomination, be it Gingrich or one of his rivals.
Rick Tyler, a former top Gingrich strategist and spokesman for Winning Our Future, declined to comment on the donation, which was first reported by The Washington Post. Politico reported last month that Adelson was prepared to spend $20 million to help Gingrich.
A 2010 Supreme Court decision easing restrictions on corporate and individual spending laid the groundwork for these political action committees, or super PACs, which can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to influence elections as long as they do not coordinate directly with a candidate's campaign. The identities of those who contributed to super PACs in the second half of 2011 won't be reported until the end of January.
Republican-leaning super PACs played a significant role in the 2010 midterm elections, helping deliver the House to the GOP and boost the number of Republicans in the Senate. The 2012 contest is the first to test the influence of such groups in presidential politics.
No candidate has seen his fortunes affected by the emergence of super PACs more than Gingrich.
Riding high in polls just a month ago, he became the target of a $3 million advertising barrage sponsored by Restore Our Future, a super PAC supporting Mitt Romney run by several of the former Massachusetts governor's allies. The ads, which pounded Gingrich for his ties to federal housing giant Freddie Mac and his reversal on issues like climate change, sent his political fortunes plunging in Iowa. Gingrich finished fourth in the state's caucuses last week.
Gingrich has vowed to carry on and is hoping to resuscitate his campaign in South Carolina, which holds its primary Jan. 21. Since Romney is heavily favored to win the New Hampshire primary Tuesday, his rivals are looking to slow his momentum when the contest moves south.
Several super PACs have already played a role in the Republican campaign. They include Make Us Great Again, a super PAC backing Texas Gov. Rick Perry; Our Destiny, supporting former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman; and the Red White and Blue Fund, which helped revive Rick Santorum's campaign in Iowa and is running ads in South Carolina.
Priorities USA Action, a super PAC backing President Barack Obama's re-election campaign, has spent modestly during the Republican nominating contest and is expected to step up its role in the general election.
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What is Sheldon getting in return for his wad?
Newt's services as a "historian."
Be careful. The serpent / salamander could very well be the Anti-Christ.
These SUPER-PAC ads are a tremendous public service.
The MSM never points out how nearly every major party candidate is a BIG Government hack. And why should it? The MSM is operated by BIG Corporations which benefit from BIG Government, and delivered by flaks who get paid to promote the BIG Government line.
That is why the MSM only wants to talk about the candidates' failed marriages, their $200 haircuts, and whether we should attack Iran yesterday or next week. The debate is carefully restricted so as to limit our choices to either BIG Government policy A or B.
We should be glad that at least there are some deep pockets willing to take on the role of exposing the BIG Government hacks, even if in most cases their intention is to help some other BIG Government hack get elected.
Just another carpetbagger from Dorchester, Mass. But we all know that "get evens are a mfer...." Ask his daughters, who are shall we say "light in the loafers". You get what you ask for, dear Sheldon....
Jack.Webb,- Right On!
Poor dumb Republicans are being played like violins
Another schmuck trying to make Israel our 51st state.
@n7vblogspot, If you want anarchy, abolishment of public education, no campaign finance laws, and all the other stuff you whine about incessantly, go live in Somalia. They are pretty lawless there.
Newt Gingrich is a true scumbag, and everybody over the age of 30 knows it from his history. If you Republicans want real change, vote Ron Paul.
Abolish campaign finance laws.