Newt's Billionaire Backer Out to Beat Santorum

Sheldon Adelson is considering dropping another massive pile of cash into Newt Gingrich's super PAC—but he's doing it in part because he thinks it will help Mitt Romney, sources tell the Wall Street Journal. The billionaire casino mogul thinks that keeping Gingrich in the race will draw conservative voters away from Rick Santorum, clearing the way for Romney, who Adelson thinks has the best chance to beat President Obama.

"Sheldon says we all have to keep our eyes on the goal here—beating Obama," says one source. Friends say he isn't completely jumping ship to Romney, but that he is comfortable with Romney as the nominee. He's less keen on Santorum because he doesn't share his socially conservative stances. Adelson hasn't donated to Gingrich in weeks—sources say Republican insiders had pressured him to stop—but will now likely donate another $10 million before Super Tuesday. (More Sheldon Adelson stories.)