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The ‘billionaire primary’: Who’s backing whom?

Mega-wealthy donors, many of them billionaires, are expected to play an unprecedented role in the 2016 presidential race. Here’s a list of who’s backing whom so far:

7. Foster Friess: former Sen. Rick Santorum (R) of Pennsylvania

Keith Srakocic/AP
Former US Sen. Rick Santorum announces his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president of the United States in the 2016 election on Wednesday, May 27, 2015 in Cabot, Pa.

Mr. Friess made his millions in the mutual fund industry and emerged as an outspoken megadonor in 2012 for Mr. Santorum, a favorite among social conservatives. Then, he donated more than $2 million to a pro-Santorum super political action committee.

Now Santorum is back for a second shot at the presidency, and Friess is supporting him again. He stood near the podium May 27 when Santorum announced his 2016 bid. But this time, Friess told the Associated Press, "any giving I'm doing is going to be lower-profile and less noticed.”

Friess is perhaps best known for his colorful comments, including this one from 2012:  “Back in my days, they’d use Bayer aspirin for contraceptives. The gals put it between their knees, and it wasn’t that costly.”

Friess isn’t a billionaire. In 2012, The Wall Street Journal reported that he’s worth $530 million. But he’s a spender. Now Friess is focused on arming the Kurdish minority in Iraq.

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Mark Sappenfield
Editor

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