It isn’t certain yet which GOP horse casino mogul Sheldon Adelson is going to back, but given his reputation or shelling out funds, GOP hopefuls are making sure they get his attention.
One way to Adelson’s heart and deep pockets is through showing support for Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech before Congress. While some Democrats are boycotting the speech, since President Obama was not consulted, the GOP is staunchly in favor of Netanyahu coming to speak about the Iran threat, especially since he was invited by Republican House speaker John Boehner. To get Sheldon Adelson’s attention, potential GOP candidates must wax as eloquent as possible over the visit.
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Senator Lindsay Graham of South Carolina is holding a Bibi speech-watching luncheon at the GOP Capitol Hill Club. Lindsay Graham wants attendees to fund his Security Through Strength to finance his travels if he considers a run for President. Ken Abramovitz, a venture capitalist, told the Washington Post that Graham is “a dark horse, but a real solid speaker. I try to meet all the candidates, and he’s part of the debate.”
Senator Ted Cruz has been outspoken in his support for Israel and against Iran. While some might find his statement that the Obama administration considers it “perfectly acceptable” for Iran to obtain a nuclear bomb a bit of an exaggeration, there is no doubt he and Adelson share a similar hawkishness. Cruz joined Holocaust survivor and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel’s panel discussion in the Senate hearing room Monday entitled, “Never Again: Guarding against a nuclear Iran.” With Adelson in attendance, Cruz said, according to Bloomberg, “Those who are leading this negotiation fundamentally don’t understand who it is they are dealing with.”
Senator Marco Rubio of Florida has not yet made his Presidential run official, but the consensus is that he is serious about it. Apparently, Senator Rubio and the Adelsons shared a steak dinner in a private dining room of a restaurant in Washington D.C. That is pretty serious, because every time Sheldon Adelson eats dinner, the GOP gets another donation. Rubio is aiming for around $50 million before next year’s Iowa caucuses.
“Marco’s best asset is Marco, ” Scott Weaver, co-sponsor of Rubio’s advisory committee told ABC. “If you can get Marco in front of people, he sells himself. It’s been an easier sales process than we thought at this point.” Well, apparently Sheldon Adelson thought he was worth at least a steak dinner.
