The Washington Post reports that billionaire casino magnate Sheldon Adelson has given five million dollars to a super PAC that supports former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in the Republican primary presidential race. The paper cites as person close to Adelson and says the Las Vegas mogul plans to spend generously in 2012.
The check from Adelson is the latest in an avalanche of campaign cash flooding the presidential season to independent groups known as Super PACs The check was cut on Friday to Winning Our Future, a group run by former Gingrich associates, according to two people close to the donor. A person close to Adelson said that the billionaire planned to spend at least another $5 million during the campaign — either to the Gingrich-linked group or to the winner of the Republican nomination for president — and that the initial check was intended to keep Gingrich competitive in the Jan. 21 South Carolina primary.
