According to a letter obtained by POLITICO, the organizers of the Republican National Convention are begging Las Vegas billionaire Sheldon Adelson for $6 million to help them out of a financial hole.
The letter was signed by members of the Cleveland 2016 Host Committee and revealed that more than two-dozen corporations and individuals have backed out of $8.1 million in pledged donations, Gawker reports. The withdrawals, mostly due to Donald Trump being the presumptive GOP nominee, have left the RNC $6 million short of the $64 million it needs to cover the convention’s costs.
“Over the past couple months, negative publicity around our potential nominee resulted in a considerable number of pledges backing out from their commitments,” the letter, dated July 12, reads.
“We would greatly appreciate if you would consider a $6,000,000 contribution to the Cleveland 2016 Host Committee to help us cross the finish line.”
From POLITICO:
It goes on to list the companies and wealthy individuals who have withdrawn their financial commitments. Among those who have canceled their donations, according to the letter, are David Koch ($1 million), FedEx ($500,000), Visa ($100,000), Pepsi ($500,000) and Coca-Cola ($1 million).
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Other corporations listed in the letter as having withdrawn earlier commitments include Apple ($250,000), as previously reported by POLITICO, as well as BP ($50,000) and United Health ($500,000).
GOP officials have long denied that Trump was hampering their ability to raise fund for the convention, which is set to be help July 18-21 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
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