Sheldon Adelson is getting practical when it comes to 2016.
That's according to close associates of the conservative Las Vegas casino magnate who told WaPo's Matea Gold and Phil Rucker that “the bar for support is going to be much higher" in terms of who Adelson decides to back in the 2016 Republican field in 2016. That's a decidedly consequential decision given that Adelson and his wife, Miriam, donated $93 million to super PACs in the 2012 election -- making them the biggest givers in the political world. (That $93 million only counts donations Adelson made to groups that must disclose their donors; it does not include contributions to groups that are not required to disclose the identity of their donors; that means his actual donations during 2012 was likely far higher than $93 million.)
All told, the Adelsons spread that $93 million around to 17 different groups -- with their donations ranging from $30 million down to $250,000. Thanks to the good people at the Center for Responsive Politics, we can break down what went where. The list of Adelson donations is below -- from the biggest to the "smallest."
1. Restore Our Future (Mitt Romney super PAC): $30 million
2. American Crossroads (GOP-aligned super PAC): $23 million
3. Winning Our Future (Newt Gingrich super PAC): $15 million
4. YG Action Fund (GOP-aligned super PAC): $5 million
5. Congressional Leadership Fund (GOP-aligned super PAC): $5 million
6. Independence Virginia PAC (George Allen super PAC): $4 million
7. (tie) Freedom PAC (GOP-aligned super PAC): $2 million
7. (tie) Republican Jewish Coalition Victory Fund: $2 million
9. Ending Spending (GOP-aligned super PAC): $1.15 million
10. New Energy Opportunity Foundation: $1.02 million
11. (tie) Patriot Prosperity (Shmuley Boteach super PAC): $1 million
11. (tie) Hardworking Americans Committee (GOP-aligned super PAC): $1 million
13. Treasure Coast Jobs Coalition (Allen West super PAC): $750,000
14. America 360 committee (Scott Brown super PAC): $500,000
15. Hispanic Leadership Fund (anti Joe Garcia 501(c)(4)): $380,000
16. (tie) JAN PAC (Jan Brewer super PAC): $250,000
16. (tie) Conservative Renewal (David Dewhurst super PAC): $250,000