Adelson Cutting Off Gingrich? [May Decide To Shift Funds to Team Romney To Defeat Santorum]

Hot Air ^ | March 14, 2012 | ED MORRISSEY

[Steelfish]

Adelson Cutting Off Gingrich? MARCH 14, 2012 B ED MORRISSEY

(snip) CNBC’s John Harwood. Harwood told Rachel Maddow last night that the main funder of Newt Gingrich’s super-PAC, casino owner Sheldon Adelson, has written his last check for Gingrich in this race:

Greg Sargent spoke with the head of the super-PAC, Rick Tyler, who acknowledged that he’s in for some rough days ahead:

(snip) The super PAC’s operations have been largely funded by billionaire casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, whose money has effectively kept Gingrich’s candidacy afloat.

John Harwood of the New York Times last night quoted a friend of Adelson saying that he had written his “last check.”

I just checked in with Rick Tyler, the head of the pro-Newt super PAC . Asked if he could continue operating without Adelson’s money, Tyler conceded: “Fundraising will be challenging.”

But Tyler vowed that the PAC would continue operating as best it could as long as Gingrich stayed in the race. Asked why Gingrich should continue after two losses that seem to render the cause hopeless, Tyler said the pro-Gingrich forces were betting on a contested convention, and would take it all the way to August.

The campaign itself probably can’t do much better at fundraising after the losses yesterday. Conservative activists have been demanding consolidation behind Rick Santorum for several weeks, and their argument got a lot stronger after last night. If Adelson cuts off the super-PAC, Gingrich won’t have many resources to run a competitive campaign.

The question will be whether Adelson himself acknowledges that. He’s already been rumored to have pledged to support Romney if Gingrich didn’t win the nomination. He might just decide to move his very large fundraising capability to Team Romney now and focus on defeating Santorum in the primaries.

[Mariner]

There's no data in there to suggest WHERE those votes and delegates will go.

That guy's opinion is no better than yours or mine.

[X-spurt]

Do you understand how Super Pacs work? Santorum can not say doodly to them.

This rumor is just that. If one thing can be said with certainty, this capmaign has had plenty of fake info... wonder where it comes from?

[X-spurt]

Do you understand how Super Pacs work? Santorum can not say doodly to them.

This rumor is just that. If one thing can be said with certainty, this capmaign has had plenty of fake info... wonder where it comes from?

[Mariner]

"I think it is fair to say that Rick could easily get 40% of Newts voters if he finally bails, especially if they want to give Milt the shaft."

Thank you for your courteous and thoughtful reply.

I think we're fixin' to see what a two man race looks like. We disagree on the outcome.

[Steelfish]

If Gingrich drops off, Santorum would get 57% of his vote tally and 27% would go to Romney.

Check the following analysis based on PPP polling.

http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/08/how-would-santorum-do-without-gingrich/

[annieokie]

You would think so wouldn't you, but with Rick being so Evangelical and all, he would be against gambling types and snub the money. If he took the money many of his supporter and media would then say hypocrite.

Adelson wants to beat Obama, so he would put his money where it would count. I want him to stay with NEWT GINGRICH, who is not coming across as America's preacher man.

We are Christians, and we sometimes buy a lottery ticket. One of our Elders once said that if he knew money was coming into the Church coffers that was from gambling, he would refuse it. DUH! Like the money was evil?

[Kevmo]

It sounds like a certain measure of true colors are showing.

[American Constitutionalist]

Put it this way Lazlo... those who were going to vote for Romney were those who were going to vote for him back in 2008.
Those who were going to vote for Romney made their minds up even last year... so most of Romney's votes either come from already decided voters or those who push the lever at the voting booth because they saw that the MSM, RNC and the establishment told them that he was the leading candidate.
Also, yes, there is a the Liberal/Democrat cross over voters, but, that's it.
Romney is not getting the majority of the conservative vote.

[Guenevere]

He is not a big government/union guy...

I guess if you keep saying it enough, you hope folks will believe it...

..but it's just not true.

[Elvina]

Clearly if he wants to keep our country from turning into Europe, Newt should join forces openly with Santorum. If we end up with Romney, it will be bad for everyone.

[jersey117]

The problem with Santorum is that he’s not really out there attacking obama.