WASHINGTON -- Billionaire Sheldon Adelson is expanding his super PAC giving in October by making a huge contribution to a group working to return former Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) to his old seat.
Independence Virginia PAC reported Wednesday that it had received a $1.5 million contribution from the Las Vegas casino mogul on Oct. 12. This is the largest contribution the Virginia super PAC has received since it launched.
The group has largely been funded by notable Republican donors outside Virginia. Besides Adelson, they include Texas homebuilder and Swift Boat Veterans funder Bob Perry, who gave $1 million in September, and former Rick Santorum supporter Foster Friess, who chipped in $10,000.
So far, Independence Virginia has spent $2.2 million attacking Allen's Democratic opponent, former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine.
Adelson and his family constitute the nation's top donor to super PACs -- the independent political committees that can accept unlimited contributions from corporations, unions and individuals -- with $39.75 million given in this election cycle. He has said that his goal is to stop President Barack Obama from being reelected as he believes Obama to be pushing a "socialist-style economy."
Adelson has also suggested that a Foreign Corrupt Practices Act inquiry into his company's business dealings in China might have been launched in retaliation for his political giving and that he hopes a more supportive administration would end the potentially damaging investigation.
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