Report: Adelson to donate $10 million to Koch political efforts

Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson — who famously bankrolled the super-PAC supporting Newt Gingrich's presidential campaign — will reportedly give $10 million to the billionaire Koch brothers' political organizations during the 2012 political campaign, according to a report in the Washington Post.

The pairing of two of the biggest conservative donors is a significant development in the money race  that has enveloped the presidential campaign. Combined, the three billionaires have said they plan to spend around $500 million on the election.

It's not clear where the $10 million Adelson donation — made during a retreat hosted by the Kochs in San Diego last weekend — will go, but the brothers do help fund the Americans for Prosperity, a major player already in the presidential ad wars. On Thursday, Americans of Prosperity announced a new $9-million ad campaign targeting repeal of the Affordable Care Act after the Supreme Court upheld the legislation as constitutional.

Adelson has already pledged $10 million in additional funds to Crossroads GPS, and advocacy organization helmed by former Bush adviser Karl Rove, and another $10 million to two separate groups backing House GOP candidates. Including donations to Newt Gingrich's campaign, the casino billionaire has spent more than $70 million on the 2012 race already, the Huffington Post reports.

Some of that money could be coming back, though. According to the June filing from Winning our Future, the super-PAC supporting Gingrich's effort, the committee is refunding $5 million to Adelson's wife, Miriam. Gingrich exited the presidential race in May. 

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