Friday, February 17, 2012

ADELSON GIVING TO ROMNEY -- INDIRECTLY?

Earlier this month, there were stories -- from The New York Times, from CNN -- making the point that casino zillionaire Sheldon Adelson really, really likes Mitt Romney, even though he gives millions of dollars to Newt Gingrich's super PAC. Adelson, we were told, has promised to help Romney just as soon as Mitt gets the GOP nomination -- a nomination Adelson's millions are preventing MITT from obtaining.

But maybe there's no paradox in this anymore.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's faltering campaign is about to get another shot in the arm, CBS News has learned.

Billionaire casino magnate Sheldon Adelson plans to give another $10 million to the outside group backing the former Georgia lawmaker who is running behind former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, a source close to Adelson told CBS News....


Does Romney now want this to happen because Gingrich is so far back in the polls he needs to be kept in the race so he can split the anti-Romney vote with Santorum? If I were Mitt, I suppose I'd want this.

Still, Adelson's "I love you, but I'm dating Newt" approach to political check-writing always reminds me of those stories about the young Richard Nixon volunteering to drive Pat on her dates with other men until she finally agreed to marry him -- which always struck me as cringe-inducingly sad.

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UPDATE: My theory is so brilliant that The Wall Street Journal advanced it two days ago.

4 comments:

BH said...

From a Dem point of view - or my individual Dem point of view, anyway - only good can come of Adelson keeping The Newt above water. The longer he's in, the better. Same goes for Foster Friess & his pet, too.

Steve M. said...

Despite my recent qualms, right now I think I'd rather have Santorum beating Romney one on one, rather than Romney winning against divided opposition. On the other hand, maybe one non-Mitt rises whenever Romney trains the Death Star on the other....

BH said...

That second scenario is sort of how I see it. Plus, the longer Mitty's got to spend megabucks on beating not just one, but two, oppos (three if you still count Paul), well, that's money not spent against us. Lastly, I like The Newt staying in because I think that his continued presence almost guarantees more usable-in-the-general nutzoid rhetoric from all concerned.

Mr Eddie B said...

Sorry folks Newt hates Mitt so much he wouldnt put his dolars in Michigan, why? He wants Mitt to loose! He's gonna take his 10 Mil and use it in his home and southern states!