I don't think Rove believes that. I think Rove is playing mind games. He makes himself a potential target for an Obama outburst, and the elected politicins, DEM and GOP alike, will rally to the opposing view that Obama is a power player. The GOP adopts the view that Obama is in charge, to avoid accountability.
Anyway, Rove's remark is a starting point to demonstrate the opposite of what Rove says.