<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/eastcoastgambler/10965911365/in/photolist-cqoybY-mDdNpR-cqoxY3-dfrMXk-dhh6C5-drt4nX-dhfTxr-bV6y8S-cmg3tL-5bwz5k-dPPJoa-dAZv3p-7CgGaY-7CcRYv-7CcRUc-7CgG7G-7CcRG2-7CcRBH-7CgFzC-7CcScK-dAZv1k-57jg4J-dPVkZN-dPVgU1-5kcvA7-iinh5b-5A5f3Z-qyHtvs-8yotb7-qkV6XV-54j2rB-54j1V6-hH2apk-gbSfcb-3uzWMM-g1Xe2V-g1WHuQ-cmCqmL-cmCqsY-c1mrmE-bV5RBY-dkrvi5-dkrvfW-dkrtiR-dkrthi-cmCqoG--cmCqqj-cmCquA-cKF1sS">East Coast Gambler</a>/Flickr
For years, Republicans who aspire to the presidency have sought the support of Sheldon Adelson, the billionaire casino magnate and GOP mega-donor. Adelson spent $150 million backing Republicans during the 2012 election cycle, and the candidate who secures his support this time around will get a big boost in a crowded GOP field. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who announced his campaign on Monday, already has one billionaire backer—Norman Braman, a Miami car dealer. But Rubio also seems to have impressed Adelson himself.
Israel-watchers on Twitter have pointed out that Israel Hayom, the daily newspaper owned by Adelson, has been particularly interested in the junior senator from Florida.
Third morning in a row Marco Rubio has been on the cover of Israel HaYom. He seems to be winning the Adelson primary. http://t.co/KwxkrpPRaH
— Gregg Carlstrom (@glcarlstrom) April 14, 2015
Full-page in Yisrael Hayom pitting Rubio vs Clinton. No mention of other GOP candidates. “Adelson primary” is over. pic.twitter.com/xcjXQLThIL
— Lahav Harkov (@LahavHarkov) April 15, 2015
The fourth day in a row that Rubio has been featured in Yisrael Hayom, Israel’s Sheldon Adelson-owned paper. Hmmm. https://t.co/NT8OzijFPA
— Yair Rosenberg (@Yair_Rosenberg) April 15, 2015
It’s too early to call the Adelson primary for Rubio. As in the past, Adelson will want each of the major candidates to court him; the casino magnate is known to be fond of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.), both of whom are seriously considering runs. But Rubio—who dined one-on-one with Adelson last month—is off to a good start.
