Pro-Gingrich super-PAC gets $5 million

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Jan. 24 (UPI) -- An independent committee supporting Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich got $5 million from a friend of the former U.S. House speaker, insiders said.

The cash for the independent expenditure committee came from Dr. Miriam Adelson, wife of casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, who has a longtime friendship with the Gingrich, The Hill reported Monday.

The Winning Our Future super-PAC drew criticism for its hard-hitting ads against Romney in South Carolina, including a 28-minute documentary that ripped the former Massachusetts governor's record as head of Bain Capital, portraying him in an unflattering light. Gingrich eventually said the organization should either correct mistakes in the ad or stop airing it.

In making the couple's second $5 million contribution to the super-PAC, Miriam Adelson told Winning Our Future officials the money should be used "to continue the pro-Newt message" rather than go after Romney, a person familiar with the contribution told The New York Times.

The infusion provides Gingrich a huge boost in Florida ahead of its primary next Tuesday, insiders told the Hill. Two polls surveying Florida Republican primary voters released Monday indicated Gingrich was ahead of Romney going into the primary.

Gingrich bested Romney in the South Carolina Republican primary Saturday.