I’m not at all happy with Rove. I just don’t think he has all that much impact. To his credit, he’s also raised millions of dollars for tea party candidates. O’Donnell’s made lots of mistakes. Maybe the biggest was her “I am not a witch” ad to open her campaign. At the end of the day, these make more difference. She still might win.
It’s not about his impact. It’s about giving ammunition to the opposition. Any time a self-styled Republicans criticizes another Republican, the media treats the critic as a respectable someone who’s message is worth listening to.
Look at that “maverick” John McCain, or heck, that airhead Megan McCain, and how much media play she got? Is she someone significant? No. But she’s treated as such as long as she bashes another Republican for being “extreme”.
Rove handed the opposition the rope that they used to hang O’Donnell. Heck he tied the noose before he handed it over to make it easy for them.
Rove will never recover from his O’Donnell mistakes.