Rove: 2008 Race Is Already Too Much, Too Soon

The Politico/Drudge ^ | 2/12/07 | Mike Allen and John Harris

[woofie]

White House senior adviser Karl Rove says that the 2008 presidential candidates have been pushed into such an early focus on tactics, fundraising and publicity that they risk a backlash from voters long before the first primary ballots are cast.

"I think it is going to mean that people develop a persona earlier and wear out their welcome earlier than they would," he told The Politico in an interview. "I think there's going to come some point this year where people are going to basically be saying: 'I'm largely disinterested in the contest.' ''

But Rove doubts that will slow the campaign. "There's going to be so much momentum from everybody feeling like they need to continue to move around the country and do things and to engage each other," he said.

In the wide-ranging half-hour interview in his West Wing office late last week, Rove also remarked on a shift in relations between the administration and Congress since the Democrats gained power.

"The entire White House is spending a lot more time talking to the Hill and a lot more time seeking feedback and giving them the time that they want," Rove said. He said his own outreach efforts include following up on "a letter to me from a Democrat member" who asked him "to look into a specific issue" that he did not reveal.

"Why this member feels comfortable saying, 'Here's something that I want you to look into,' I can't speak to," Rove said. "But I'm glad that she feels that she can say: 'I'd like you to look into this. I think we can find a way to work together.' "

[George W. Bush]

He has a point.

I thinking Obama is peaking way too early. Edwards is going to wear very thin before this fall. Hillary is too but her only chance is to knock down some negatives and lull people to sleep with endless chatty speeches. Basically, to nag us into voting for her, relying on her inevitability and big money and Bill to pull it out.

McCain is a little cautious, not sure when to declare and will probably flub it while blustering on about his Straight Talk Express. Rudy is giddily jumping out, confident of building his name recognition lead to unassailable levels but also risking peaking too early. Romney has his organization and his money machine well-oiled and just idling quietly. It's been said he plans to peak in 2008, not 2007 and he seems to have a plan and a pace. Given his liability issues, he's playing a remarkably shrewd game.

Overall, GOP candidates are starting too early. I wish we had some signs of activity in retaking Congress.

[volunbeer]

I don't think the taxpayers should have to pay for secret service protection until one year before the election.

I am sick of election 08 already.

[peyton randolph]

He's playing a long term game, don't underestimate him.

---

A long-term game that involves dumping Mexico and Central America's poorest and least educated upon the U.S., erasing the southern border, and turning the south purple with a bunch of Spanish-speaking voters ready to ride the Dim social welfare gravy train. Are you sure that Rove is a Republican? Looks like an open borders RINO to me.

[Convert]

Right - most people don't know who the candidates are.

[Jaysun]

LOL! You talking about conservatives?

I'm talking about everyone. That's my tin-can response when someone demands proof for one of my claims. ;o)

[backhoe]

Rove was either lying to us, or deceiving himself about the 2006 elections.

His opinions no longer are of any interest to me.

[finnman69]

Even if that were true, Rove could have suggested Bush issue a veto on a spending bill now and then, instead of the NONE he actually issued. We lost 2006 because of Iraq, with a smaller but significant assist from Mark Foley and his none-too-proactive bosses, plus a Macaca or two.

Who says's Rove did not? And ultimately Pres. Bush had himself only to blame for not using the veto pen on pork spending. The blame in that case should be on Pres. Bush, not Rove. There is little Pres. Bush or Rove could have done to stop the rising tide of the antiwar press. They fought them off for years. Also little Rove or the Prez could have done re: Foley and especially George Allen.

[Bigg Red]

'I'm largely disinterested in the contest.'

**
C'mon, Karl, I expect you to have better facility with the language. I think you meant to say that a voter will say, 'I'm largely uninterested in the contest.'

[Bigg Red]

You don't expect me to back up anything I say here with facts, do you?

I read it somewhere.

&&
ROTFLOL!

[Bigg Red]

Of the choices we currently have, I prefer Newt.


**
Not me. Duncan Hunter.

[Bigg Red]

I don't think the taxpayers should have to pay for secret service protection until one year before the election.

**
I don't think we should have to pay for USSS protection at all. Why not make the candidate's campaign and/or party cough up the bucks for bodyguards? I know, it's a federal law now, but it's a stupid law, IMO.

[BritExPatInFla]

Hey, Karl, sit back down at the kids table and let the adults work on the campaigns now. You're still grounded after failing at The Math(tm) in November.

[johnny33]

A long-term game that involves dumping Mexico and Central America's poorest and least educated upon the U.S., erasing the southern border, and turning the south purple with a bunch of Spanish-speaking voters ready to ride the Dim social welfare gravy train. Are you sure that Rove is a Republican? Looks like an open borders RINO to me.

Yes he is for open borders like Bush and many other Texas Republicans. I never stated that he should be supported; my point was that he is always working within a greater strategy.

[SpringheelJack]

I don't think that Rove had much to do with our 2006 losses, because he's irrelevant in the formulation of war policy, and that's pretty much what killed us --- not the spending that you said. But I also don't think that Bush could be the first president in 180 years to serve two terms without a veto (except one on stem cells) unless Rove was there telling him it wasn't a problem.

[finnman69]

Give me a break. Bush did not use his veto pen when he should have. The blame is 100% on him, regardless of what Rove may or may not have told him.

[television is just wrong]

I agree with the stand point it is way too early for serious campaigning.

there is a burnout going to happen with this.

[SpringheelJack]

Give me a break. Bush did not use his veto pen when he should have. The blame is 100% on him, regardless of what Rove may or may not have told him.

You give me a break. We all know where the buck stops, but your claim was that Rove had "nothing to do" with Bush's failure to veto government spending. And that's pretty damned unlikely.