NYT
The casino magnate Sheldon G. Adelson told Donald J. Trump
in a private meeting last week that he was willing to contribute more
to help elect him than he has to any previous campaign, a sum that could
exceed $100 million, according to two Republicans with direct knowledge
of Mr. Adelson’s commitment.
As
significant, Mr. Adelson, a billionaire based in Las Vegas, has decided
that he will significantly scale back his giving to congressional
Republicans and direct most of his contributions to groups dedicated to
Mr. Trump’s campaign. The two Republicans familiar with Mr. Adelson’s
plans spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss the
matter publicly.
Mr.
Adelson’s pledge to Mr. Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential
nominee, comes at an opportune time. Mr. Trump has relied on a mix of
his own wealth and small-dollar contributions to finance his primary
effort and lacks the sort of major donor network needed to sustain him
in the general election. Mr. Trump has said that he may need $1 billion
for the campaign but has only recently begun scheduling fund-raisers and
hiring finance staff members. Many of the Republican Party’s wealthiest
contributors, including the billionaire brothers Charles G. and David
H. Koch, have indicated they are unlikely to give to his candidacy.
What
remains unclear is how Mr. Adelson plans to contribute his money to Mr.
Trump. He will give the maximum allowed to Mr. Trump’s campaign and the
Republican National Committee, but to spend the amount he contemplates
would require donating through a “super PAC,” able to accept unlimited donations.
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