Romney Clashes With New BFF, Coulter on Gay Marriage, and More
A look at the day's political happenings, including July fundraising totals for the presidential candidates and the Republican National Convention speaker lineup.
Romney Breaks With Backer:
The days of Sheldon Adelson’s being Newt Gingrich’s “sugar daddy” are officially over, now that the casino billionaire has found a new Republican presidential candidate to bankroll. But money doesn’t come for nothing: Adelson is pressing on Romney to call for the release of Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard, a request that thus far Romney has rebuffed. It’s one of the few issues with regards to Israel that Romney and Adelson apparently disagree on. Nevertheless, Adelson continues to support Romney’s candidacy, presumably because the casino magnate wants anyone but Barack Obama to be president. Though it seems like Adelson may already be nostalgic for the good old days of supporting Gingrich. “He’s not the bold decision maker like Newt Gingrich is,” Adelson has said of Romney. “Every time I talk to him, [he says] ‘Well, let me think about it.’ Everything I’ve said to Mitt, he’s said, ‘Let me look into it.’ So he’s like Obama.” A ringing endorsement, indeed. (Read more)
Reince and Reid Spar: RNC Chairman Reince Priebus on Monday pumped up his charges that Harry Reid is lying about Mitt Romney’s tax returns. The Senate majority leader has claimed that a source from Bain Capital told him Romney paid no taxes the past decade. Said Priebus: “What else do you call somebody who goes onto the Senate floor and claims that someone hasn’t paid taxes in 10 years, a complete lie, and uses his official office to do it?” Gee, if only there were a way to actually prove Reid was lying. Oh, wait. There is! Romney could release his tax returns, and then theoretically that would be the end of the issue. (Read more)
Mitt Hauls It In: July proved to be another fruitful month for Romney’s presidential campaign. The GOP candidate and the Republican National Committee raised more than $100 million — $101.3 million to be exact — for the second straight month. President Obama and the Democratic National Committee raised $75 million in July. It’s the third straight month that Obama has raised less than Romney. (Read more)
Taking the Stage: Florida Gov. Rick Scott, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Arizona Sen. John McCain were among the speakers announced Monday for the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., at the end of this month. The lineup also includes Ohio Gov. John Kasich, New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez and former Arkansas Gov./Chick-fil-A aficionado Mike Huckabee. (Read more)
Video of the Day: And speaking of Chick-fil-A, conservative commentator Ann Coulter waded into the debate over the fast food chain’s president being against gay marriage. Coulter said Dan Cathy’s position wasn’t an “anti-gay thing.” She added: “He said, ‘look, all the founders of this company are married to our first wives. It’s genuinely a pro-marriage position to oppose gay marriage.’ ” OK, if that’s not an anti-gay thing, can you tell us what is please?
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