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It's like going to the track and betting on the wrong the horse.
Michigan's wealthy donated big bucks to Republican presidential hopefuls who flamed out. In all, through February, Michigan donors gave more than $6 million to super PACs influencing the presidential election this year, and of that, about $5.2 million was spent on failed Republican candidates, Chad Livengood and Jonathan Oosting of The Detroit News report.
Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert contributed $1.25 million to a super PAC supporting New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who dropped out of the race and has endorsed Donald Trump, The News reports. He also has donated $100,000 to New Day for America, the super PAC supporting Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who remains in the race and is regarded as a very long shot.
The News reports that the powerful DeVos family of west Michigan of Amway fame spent more than $1.4 million supporting Republican presidential candidates who ended up dropping out of the race. Records show nine DeVoses contributed a combined $500,000 to the Conservative Solutions super political action committee supporting Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida.
The biggest giver to New Day for America, which backs Kasich, was Peter Karmanos, co-founder of Compuware Corp. and chairman of Mad Dog Technology in Birmingham, who chipped in $500,000, the News reports.
Auto industry executive Roger Penske donated $250,000 to Jeb Bush’s Right to Rise super PAC, and C. Michael Kojaian, the finance chairman of Bush’s Michigan campaign, contributed $310,123 to the Bush super PAC.
