Billionaire Sheldon Adelson cares a lot about Israel...and so does Newt Gingrich, whose super PAC he is backing.
One of the biggest stories surrounding the rise of the super PAC this election season has been identifying the mega-donors behind the super PACs. Shadowy guys like Foster Friess and Sheldon Adelson have become household names thanks to their willingness (and ability) to bankroll entire campaigns.
So far, it pays for these sugar daddies to write seven-figure checks. As Politico reports, the campaigns are pushing their pet causes:
But regardless of which came first, a look at the candidate’s stump speeches and super PAC ads shows the potential for the signature issues of mega-donors to get major play, even if they aren’t a top priority with voters.
Friess’s obsession with Islamic extremism, Iran, and Sharia law are among his primary reasons for back Santorum:
Friess — who provided the seed funding for the super PAC and has donated at least $1 million — suggested he may have urged it to focus on those issues. The group has spent $6.2 million boosting Santorum, including with ads casting him as “a resolute leader of the fight against radical Islam.”
Meanwhile, Adelson’s big pet issue is support of Israel. Politico notes:
On the campaign trail, Gingrich has promised that among his first executive orders as president would be one to relocate the Embassy.
Must be nice to have the ear of the potential future president.
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