Casino magnate and philanthropist Sheldon Adelson and his wife Miriam have again donated $10 million to a super PAC (political action committee) that backs presidential candidate Governor Mitt Romney. Federal Elections Commission filings reveal that the sizable contributions to Restore Our Future were made during the first half of October.
The Adelsons stated that they gave their second donation to the super PAC to “help level the playing field.” This was apparently a reference to the $1 million pledge made last month by billionaire and noted liberal George Soros to a Super PAC that supports President Barack Obama.
The politically conservative power couple has donated a total of $47 million to the election campaigns of Republican candidates in this election year. Just within the past several weeks, Sheldon and Miriam Adelson gave $500,000 to the Patriot Prosperity super PAC that provides funding for Rabbi Shmuley Boteach’s run for Congress in New Jersey’s 9th Congressional District.
Super PACs are legally entitled to raise unlimited funds from corporations, unions and other groups, as well as individuals, and thus indirectly back a political candidate. According to the law, they are barred from coordinating their efforts with the candidate’s official campaign.
The 79-year-old Adelson, who is said to be worth approximately $20 billion, disclosed in September that he was fully prepared to spend as much as $100 million, or “whatever it takes,” to defeat Obama in the November 6 election.
