Already, four of the GOP presidential contenders have had to drop out – Michele Bachmann because she was too wacky, Jon Huntsman because he was too sane, Herman Cain because he was too exposed, and Rick Perry because he was too dim-witted.
But the greatest surprise is the sudden surge of the Adelson campaign. Little-known until now, Adelson was the big winner in South Carolina, is way out front in Florida, and looks to have the political kick needed to go the distance.
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Never heard of the Adelson campaign? It’s the married duo of Sheldon and Miriam, neither of whom are actually on the ballot. Rather, they are running on the cash-ticket.
Sheldon Adelson, a Las Vegas-based, global casino baron, has long been a major funder of far-right-wing causes – and, he’s Newt Gingrich’s very special political pal. When Newt’s presidential bid nearly flat-lined after his electoral collapses in Iowa and New Hampshire, Sheldon rushed in with emergency CPR – Cash-Powered Resuscitation. This one rich guy wrote a $5 million check to Gingrich’s SuperPAC, which is named “Winning Our Future.” The PAC injected Sheldon’s money directly into toxic attack ads against Mitt Romney in South Carolina’s primary, jolting Newt’s campaign back to life.
However, Gingrich still lacked the financial vitality to match Romney’s media buy in Florida’s pricy primary. No worries, though – Miriam Adelson stepped in to infuse Winning Our Future with another $5 million jolt of CPR. The Gingrich campaign, you see, is a vessel for the Adelson campaign, and word is that this one power couple is prepared to spend another $10 million to make their boy the GOP nominee, with more to come if he’s the one to run against President Obama.
Forget “Winning Our Future” – the ultra-rich Adelsons are “Buying Our Future.”
“A Big Check, And Gingrich Gets a Big Lift,” The New York Times, January 10, 2012.
“Super PAC’ for Gingrich To Get $5 Million Infusion,” The New York Times, January 24, 2012.
“Casino mogul’s $5 million check to pro-Gingrich group a harbinger of GOP help to come,” www.iwatchnews.org, January 9, 2012.
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