Billionaire casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson and his wife, Mariam, have given half a million dollars to a super PAC supporting a popular rabbi running for Congress in northern New Jersey.
The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that the Adelsons made their donations to Patriot Prosperity PAC, an independent-expenditure group backing Shmuley Boteach, whose House bid against eight-term incumbent Rep. Bill Bascrell (D-N.J.) is considered a long shot but could garner national attention with the big-money injection.
The Adelsons' financial support “is a game-changer, and I suspect there will be many more like it,” Boteach told the Journal in a statement through his spokesman.
Boteach, the author of the book "Kosher Sex" and host of the TV show "Shalom in the Home," raised eyebrows earlier this year when he recruited "Jon & Kate Plus 8" star Jon Gosselin to hit the campaign trail to argue that marriage counseling credits should be tax deductible.
Adelson is likely more drawn to Boteach's pro-Israel positions. Boteach has dinged Pascrell for signing the Gaza 54 letter, which asks President Barack Obama to terminate the Israeli blockade of Gaza.
Adelson has emerged as one of the GOP's most generous donors, giving $10 million to Restore Our Future, a super PAC aligned with presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. He has reportedly said he plans to funnel tens of millions more dollars to Republican candidates and causes in the run-up to November's elections.
10 more election stories from beyond the presidential field:
Rep. Grimm Distances Himself From His Legally Troubled Former Campaign Fundraiser [NY1]
Senate Candidate Hoekstra Criticizes Stabenow's Budget Leadership, Seeks Debate [Detroit News]
Pence Argues Against Setting Up State-Run Healthcare Exchange [WCSI]
Republican Congressional Candidates Seek Wins In Georgia Runoffs [Reuters]
Tenn. Senate Candidate Mark Green Gains Military Veteran Endorsements [Leaf Chronicle]
GOP Mo. Governor Candidate Gives Campaign $750,000 [KOAM]
Montana Governor Candidates Criticize Each Other In Wake Of Politician's Rape Comments [Missoulian]
Sarah Palin Endorses Bongino For Senate [Baltimore Sun]
Hill Says Wolves A Priority Of His FWP Plans [Helena Independent Record]
In Warren, 'Sign Wars' Have Begun [EastBayRI.com]
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