Gingrich group gets 'substantial' funds

[February 28, 2012]  CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) -- Billionaire casino owner Sheldon Adelson has given another "substantial" contribution to an independent group supporting Republican Newt Gingrich, helping the group launch new TV ads in seven states where the former House speaker hopes to resurrect his struggling presidential campaign.

The super PAC Winning Our Future received a donation from the Las Vegas billionaire similar to two separate $5 million contributions Adelson and his family donated previously, according to a person familiar with the contribution. The person was not authorized to discuss the donations publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The committee will air TV ads beginning Tuesday in Georgia, Ohio, Oklahoma and Tennessee, four "Super Tuesday" states voting March 6 where Gingrich hopes to rejuvenate his campaign. The super PAC will also start airing ads Wednesday in Mississippi, Alabama and Kansas, which hold contests next month.

The ads seek to undercut Republican Mitt Romney's argument that he would pose the most formidable challenge to President Barack Obama. It opens with an older man declaring Romney's name and sighing. A woman says she doesn't relate to Romney and another man says he doesn't "know if I can trust him." Another male voice says, "He doesn't have the strength to stand up to Obama."

The ad promotes Gingrich's energy plan, which the former House speaker has touted as a way to bring down gasoline prices to $2.50 a gallon. A male voice says, "Newt Gingrich can beat Obama."

Adelson's $5 million donation to Winning Our Future in January was considered critical to helping Gingrich keep his campaign alive.

The donation and ads were first reported by Politico.

[Associated Press; By KEN THOMAS]

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