http://lobelog.com/rubio-emerges-from-iowa-with-new-strength-in-adelson-primary/#more-32881

Rubio Emerges from Iowa with New Strength in Adelson Primary

by Eli Clifton
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) came in third to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Donald Trump in last night’s Iowa caucus, but he may emerge as the big winner from the first contest in the Republican nomination contest. Rubio established himself as a viable establishment candidate, finishing within striking distance of two anti-establishment candidates who reveled in offending the GOP’s elites, and made a crucial play for the long-sought endorsement from casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson and his wife Miriam. If secured, their support could unlock the key to as much as $100 million in supportive super PAC spending, if the past presidential election cycle is any indication as to their future political investments.
Going into last night, Rubio struggled to secure the most important endorsement of the hawkish pro-Israel wing of the Republican Party. To be clear, he had the next best thing: the endorsement of billionaire hedge funder Paul Singer who contributed $2.5 million to a super PAC supporting Rubio and held fundraisers for the candidate. Singer, like Adelson, is a generous supporter to groups and politicians that have opposed the White House’s diplomatic efforts to constrain Iran’s nuclear program. They are both board members of the neoconservative and pro-Likud Republican Jewish Coalition.
Rubio, like Singer, has staked out hawkish foreign policy positions. He cryptically accused Obama of betraying “the commitment this nation has made to the right of a Jewish state to exist in peace.” Pledging his unconditional support to Israel if elected president, Rubio promised he would “absolutely” revoke the Iran nuclear deal if elected president.http://lobelog.com/rubio-emerges-from-iowa-with-new-strength-in-adelson-primary/#more-32881