Adelson Looking to Endorse Mainstream Republican in 2016

Sheldon Adelson’s support for unelectable Newt Gingrich hurt Republicans in 2012; this time he will look for a more mainstream candidate.

Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson is a vocal supporter of the Republican Party and hasn’t been afraid to put his money where his mouth is. His support for Republicans is about American gambling laws as well as their attitude toward business in general. In 2012 he put $92 million into the campaigns of largely unsuccessful candidates. Given that failure, he will be more selective in 2016.

Adelson’s money went to waste because he chose to back long-shot Newt Gingrich over Mitt Romney, the only Republic who ever had a chance at beating Barack Obama. He hurt Romney’s chances by allowing Gingrich to prolong his challenge, inadvertently helping Obama’s reelection bid.

Who will he back this time?

The mainstream candidates appear to be Jeb Bush (little brother of George W. Bush), Chris Christie and Scott Walker. While Christie looks to have the best chance of beating the Democratic challenger, there is no question that Adelson is angry about his endorsement of online casinos in America. Whether he will put pragmatism over personal dislike is yet to be known.