Adelsons boost ad blitz for Romney
WASHINGTON - Restore Our Future this week launched a 10-state TV ad campaign in support of Mitt Romney, thanks in large measure to a hefty October contribution from Sheldon and Miriam Adelson.
The Las Vegas couple contributed $10 million this month to the pro-Romney super PAC as it launched a $17.7 million ad campaign targeting voters in swing states.
Sheldon Adelson, chairman of Las Vegas Sands Corp., gave $5 million on Oct. 11, and his wife, Miriam, gave $5 million on Oct. 5, according to a pre-election report filed with the Federal Election Commission on Thursday.
Their contributions accounted for nearly half of the total that Restore Our Future raised between Oct. 1 and Oct. 19, according to the commission report. The couple previously had given $10 million to the PAC.
In a separate filing, Restore Our Future reported spending $17,661,241 on Tuesday to buy television ad time.
The PAC had announced that it would be running the television advertisements through Monday in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin.
"This presidential election will be determined by those Americans who are demanding better than a high unemployment rate, a crushing national debt, and falling incomes," Restore Our Future Treasurer Charlie Spies said in a news release.
The Adelsons said they made the contributions to counter the millions of dollars raised to help re-elect President Barack Obama, according to Reuters.
"Our family has felt an obligation to help level the playing field by providing support to the candidates and causes on the other side of the equation," according to the statement provided to the news service by a Sands spokesman on Thursday.
Republican candidates, including vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan, have used Adelson's casinos for campaign appearances, and the couple opened their home for GOP fundraisers, including one for Romney when his wife, Ann, stumped in Las Vegas in early October.
In September, Forbes listed Adelson as the 11th wealthiest person in the United States. It said he was worth $20.5 billion.
The Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks money in politics, lists Sheldon and Miriam Adelson as the top donors to super PACS. They identified $46.5 million in contributions - putting them well ahead of the other top contributors.
Second is Robert Perry of Houston, a fellow conservative who has contributed $20.45 million.
The top liberal contributor is Fred Eychaner of Chicago at $7.75 million.
Miriam Adelson, a physician, heads the Nevada-based Adelson Drug Clinic.
Contact Stephens Washington Bureau reporter Peter Urban at purban@stephensmedia.com or
at 202-783-1760.
