Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Haim Saban, Tzipi Livni at the Saban Forum in Washington, D.C. Photo by Natasha Mozgovaya
A quick look at the list
of top political donors for 2014 reveals a striking fact: At least a third of
the most generous 50 mega-givers were Jewish. In fact, contributions from
Jewish billionaires and multi-millionaires dominated the top 10 spots on the
list.
Striking, yet unsurprising.
Political activists have known for years that members
of the Jewish community are over-represented in the field of political contributions.
And now, with the 2016 election cycle beginning to
warm up, these Jewish donors are on the minds of all prospective candidates.
The 2014 list represents donors who were active
between presidential election cycles. Some gave directly to parties, or
candidates, but most of the money went to Super PACs, the main cash vehicle
that will oil the wheels of the 2016 presidential campaign.
On the Democratic side, donors are taking a more
relaxed approach. With Hillary Rodham Clinton dominating the field, most donors
are saving their cash gifts for the actual presidential race.
Clinton comes with her own rolodex of major Jewish
donors, many of whom funded her 2000 Senate race and her unsuccessful 2008
presidential bid. Haim Saban, the Hollywood cartoon billionaire, is their
poster child — a devoted backer who has given millions throughout the years and
has become part of the Clintons’ inner circle. Saban is not featured on the top
2014 donor list, but all Democratic activists contacted by the Forward mention
his name on the top of their 2016 list.
But Clinton will also have to win over party donors
who backed Barack Obama in his race against her in 2008. Some of them have
frowned at her positions as too mainstream for their progressive tastes. Film
and music industry mogul David Geffen, for example, took a harsh tone against
Clinton during the Obama years, but has now returned to base, promising his
unequivocal support.
For Republicans, the race for donors is in full
force, with Jewish political contributors in front row seats.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio has locked in top Jewish
donor Norman Braman, who has reportedly agreed to spend $10-15 million to make
sure Rubio is the next GOP presidential candidate. Braman is an example of a
new type of Jewish Republican donor, moving from a generous contributor to a
mega-donor, one whose early multi-million dollar pledge makes him a top player.
Other candidates are still hoping to secure support
from major funders. All eyes are set on New York hedge fund manager Paul
Singer, one of the GOP’s leading contributors who has thrown a fundraiser for
Rubio but not yet committed to help him. And, of course, the top prize — Las
Vegas casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, who has shown he will use his fortune to
support his candidates massively.
Some megaodonors have already made their mark as top
tier contributors, while others, like Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus,
still on the sidelines, are viewed by party insiders as potentially ready to
upgrade their status from “major” to “mega” donor, a move that requires adding
at least one zero to their total contributions.
For more stories, go to www.forward.com.
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