Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, owner of the Sun and the Times in the UK, Fox and the Wall Street Journal in the States, has given $1m to help Republicans in this year's mid-term elections.

It is raising eyebrows. But should it?

Mr Murdoch uses his wealth and media muscle to promote conservative free market ideas. He's just as well known for backing obvious winners, like Tony Blair in 1997 and Barack Obama in 2008, in hope of access and influence. It largely worked with Blair.