Nobody is playing a bigger hand in Florida right now than Las Vegas casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson.
The 78-year-old billionaire is using his wealth to prop up Newt Gingrich’s candidacy — as well as push for expanded gambling, an issue long the scourge of the religious right.
As Adelson backs the additional casinos, a big question is how this convergence might shape both the newly enigmatic Republican primary and a smoldering statewide legislative battle.
Earlier this month, a state Senate panel approved a bill that would allow for up to three new casino resorts in Florida, but the measure has drawn huge opposition from key Republican legislators in the state.
The bill is being lobbied hard by Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands Corp. and the Malaysian-based Genting Group, both of which have drawn up multibillion-dollar projects for Florida.
And Gingrich is not the only one with ties to the casino industry.
Brian Ballard, Mitt Romney’s Florida finance co-chairman, is a major lobbyist for Genting, as is former Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, a Romney surrogate in Florida who has appeared in Spanish-language ads for the candidate. Additionally, the Romney campaign pollster, Public Opinion Strategies, is also a Genting client.
Gingrich, meanwhile, owes his survival to the support of Adelson, who plunked down $5 million for the pro-Gingrich super PAC Winning Our Future to run ads in South Carolina.
Adelson, however, is currently under federal investigation for bribing public officials in the Chinese gambling mecca of Macau. Depending on how things shake out, Gingrich’s key benefactor could swiftly turn into the campaign’s albatross.
The connection between the two men will likely endure its highest level of scrutiny in Florida, where Adelson’s lobbying efforts have attracted local headlines over the last year.
Back in September, Adelson was a notable guest of Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s at a Republican presidential debate and straw poll in Orlando.
“Sheldon is the biggest name and so the biggest name tends to get the attention. He becomes the lightning rod,” said a source who has worked closely with Adelson on issue advocacy in the past.
“Big donors, no matter whether they are on the right or the left, tend to get more credit than is actually due them. That is the nature of the beast. And people who want to give without attribution don’t mind that others are getting the credit.”
A former Adelson lobbyist said he was surprised that the casino magnate has been so out in front this cycle.
“Sheldon himself is not a terribly rational person,” said the lobbyist. “Don’t try to say, ‘What is he thinking?’ Half the time he is nuts.”
The Las Vegas Sands Corp. did not respond to an interview request for this story.
So will the casino expansion debate in Florida seep into the presidential race?
“It is always a possibility,” said state Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, a Republican who sponsored the legislation last year.
And Democratic state Sen. Maria Sachs, who supports the legislation, mused, “I think it would be interesting to ask them what they feel about the expansion of gaming. It would be very interesting that those Republican candidates who want to curry favor with religious right.”
Republican strategists say that the opposition of Republican primary voters to gambling is often overstated, and Gingrich’s evangelical point person in Florida, former state Sen. John Grant, says the two issues are separable.
“I personally oppose gambling expansion,” Grant told The Daily, “but I also realize that while gambling is gambling, it is also business, and there are a lot of people that really don’t like gaming but are supporting destination casinos because of construction jobs and hospitality jobs.”
Neither the Gingrich nor Romney camps would respond to questions over the weekend about gambling expansion in the state.
Daniel.Libit@thedaily.com
The 78-year-old billionaire is using his wealth to prop up Newt Gingrich’s candidacy — as well as push for expanded gambling, an issue long the scourge of the religious right.
As Adelson backs the additional casinos, a big question is how this convergence might shape both the newly enigmatic Republican primary and a smoldering statewide legislative battle.
Earlier this month, a state Senate panel approved a bill that would allow for up to three new casino resorts in Florida, but the measure has drawn huge opposition from key Republican legislators in the state.
The bill is being lobbied hard by Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands Corp. and the Malaysian-based Genting Group, both of which have drawn up multibillion-dollar projects for Florida.
And Gingrich is not the only one with ties to the casino industry.
Brian Ballard, Mitt Romney’s Florida finance co-chairman, is a major lobbyist for Genting, as is former Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, a Romney surrogate in Florida who has appeared in Spanish-language ads for the candidate. Additionally, the Romney campaign pollster, Public Opinion Strategies, is also a Genting client.
Gingrich, meanwhile, owes his survival to the support of Adelson, who plunked down $5 million for the pro-Gingrich super PAC Winning Our Future to run ads in South Carolina.
Adelson, however, is currently under federal investigation for bribing public officials in the Chinese gambling mecca of Macau. Depending on how things shake out, Gingrich’s key benefactor could swiftly turn into the campaign’s albatross.
The connection between the two men will likely endure its highest level of scrutiny in Florida, where Adelson’s lobbying efforts have attracted local headlines over the last year.
Back in September, Adelson was a notable guest of Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s at a Republican presidential debate and straw poll in Orlando.
“Sheldon is the biggest name and so the biggest name tends to get the attention. He becomes the lightning rod,” said a source who has worked closely with Adelson on issue advocacy in the past.
“Big donors, no matter whether they are on the right or the left, tend to get more credit than is actually due them. That is the nature of the beast. And people who want to give without attribution don’t mind that others are getting the credit.”
A former Adelson lobbyist said he was surprised that the casino magnate has been so out in front this cycle.
“Sheldon himself is not a terribly rational person,” said the lobbyist. “Don’t try to say, ‘What is he thinking?’ Half the time he is nuts.”
The Las Vegas Sands Corp. did not respond to an interview request for this story.
So will the casino expansion debate in Florida seep into the presidential race?
“It is always a possibility,” said state Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, a Republican who sponsored the legislation last year.
And Democratic state Sen. Maria Sachs, who supports the legislation, mused, “I think it would be interesting to ask them what they feel about the expansion of gaming. It would be very interesting that those Republican candidates who want to curry favor with religious right.”
Republican strategists say that the opposition of Republican primary voters to gambling is often overstated, and Gingrich’s evangelical point person in Florida, former state Sen. John Grant, says the two issues are separable.
“I personally oppose gambling expansion,” Grant told The Daily, “but I also realize that while gambling is gambling, it is also business, and there are a lot of people that really don’t like gaming but are supporting destination casinos because of construction jobs and hospitality jobs.”
Neither the Gingrich nor Romney camps would respond to questions over the weekend about gambling expansion in the state.
Daniel.Libit@thedaily.com
