Time for Newt Gingrich's 'political sugar daddy' to jump ship?
As Newt's campaign flounders, Romney has been urging casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson to stop bankrolling a pro-Newt super PAC, and back Mitt instead

As Mitt Romney sees the Republican presidential nomination coming within reach, he and his supporters have been discreetly reaching out to Sheldon Adelson, the billionaire casino executive who has been keeping Newt Gingrich's presidential hopes alive, say Jeff Zeleny and Jim Rutenberg in The New York Times. Romney wants Adelson to stop adding to the $10 million that the casino mogul and his wife have given to a pro-Gingrich super PAC, Winning Our Future — which has used the cash to crank out brutal anti-Romney ads. Adelson has made it clear that he will back Romney if he's the GOP nominee, but he plans to stick by Gingrich's side as long as he remains in the race. But would Gingrich's "political sugar daddy" get more for his money if he hopped on the Romney bandwagon now?
Adelson should dump Newt: After Gingrich's "wipeout loss" in Saturday's Nevada caucuses, says Jonathan S. Tobin at Commentary, Adelson sees the writing on the wall. He's "keenly aware that other pro-Israel Republicans have not rallied to Gingrich's banner, and he knows Romney is the likely nominee." Adelson might not be willing to publicly dump his old pal, but he's likely written his "last $5 million check" to him, which will severely hamper Gingrich's ability to stay in the race.
"Adelson may be ready to bail on Gingrich"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
But if Adelson ditches Newt, the fight won't be fair: "You have got to be kidding me," says William A. Jacobson at Legal Insurrection. "It's not enough for Romney to outspend Newt several times over, he has to try to cut off Newt's funding?" That would only serve to make this lopsided contest even more one-sided. The Romney camp should be ashamed of itself.
"Romney tries to cut off Newt's super PAC funding"
Romney will get plenty of help from Adelson eventually: Gingrich's "moneybags Nevada billionaire" doesn't seem inclined to dump him just yet, says Jessica Pieklo at Care2. But even if Newt's sugar daddy keeps the checks coming a little longer, Adelson "is very much open" to shifting his loyalty to Romney during the general election campaign against President Obama. "Sounds like Gingrich is in another 'open' relationship."
"Morning mix: Romney's Nevada win and Newt hangs with a rapper"
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
How the woke right gained power in the US
Under the radar The term has grown in prominence since Donald Trump returned to the White House
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK
-
Codeword: April 24, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
By The Week Staff
-
Crossword: April 24, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK