WASHINGTON — (CNN) Charles Koch, one of the conservative movement’s most powerful patrons, said in an interview Wednesday he has no plans to endorse any Republican presidential candidate in the primaries.
The Kansas billionaire, who along with his brother oversees a vast political network that bankrolls much of the Republican outside spending machine, told USA Today that he wouldn’t personally choose one of the candidates for an endorsement. Koch had previously indicated that it was possible he would back multiple Republican candidates, but expressed doubt that he would get behind just one.
“I have no plans to support anybody in the primary now,” Koch said.
His network, the Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce, has officially blessed five GOP candidates: Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina and Rand Paul. Though it originally sent word that it planned to spend nearly $900 million in the upcoming election cycle, Koch reaffirmed that the new estimate was $750 million.
Charles Koch, the more reclusive and less political of the brothers, also said he had not talked with any presidential hopeful since August.
“My brother talks to them a lot more,” Koch said. “Being in New York, it’s easier for everybody to come and see him. He’s more interested in the political side.”
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