James R. Carroll, jcarroll@courier-journal.com

LCJ

WASHINGTON - The watchers (that's the media) of the 2016 Republican presidential pre-primary (which the media has kind of made up) are noting who will be in Las Vegas this weekend - and who won't be there.

The Republican Jewish Coalition is meeting in Vegas and that's where New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker all will be speaking. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush also was in Vegas Thursday.

While there, the might-be candidates have met or will meet with Republican billionaire donor and casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, hence this has been dubbed the "Sheldon Primary."

You will recall that Adelson and his wife, Miriam, spent more than $92 million in the 2012 presidential election, backing former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., in the primaries, and former Republican Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the general election.

Not in the Sheldon primary this weekend or at the Republican Jewish Coalition is Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who also is considering a 2016 run.

But Paul's absence is not due, as some have speculated, to differences with Adelson over U.S. policy towards Israel.

"Senator Paul has a long-standing family commitment this weekend," Doug Stafford, executive director of Paul's political action committee RAND PAC, said in an e-mail.

The Washington Post reported this week that Adelson is looking to back a so-called "mainstream" Republican with a shot at winning in 2016.

Victor Chaltiel, a Republican giver who is friends with Adelson and serves on the board of the Las Vegas Sands, was quoted by the Post as saying that Adelson is "neutral" at this early point in the process, but is looking at a number of possible contenders, including Bush and Christie.

"He doesn't want a crazy extremist to be the nominee," Chaltiel told the newspaper. "He wants someone who has the chance to win the election, who is reasonable in his positions, who has convictions but is not totally crazy."

In addition, the senator has met previously with the Republican Jewish Coalition and was invited to the Las Vegas event as well, Stafford said.