(CNN) - His insight guided both of President Bush's successful White House bids, but aides to John McCain might just be hoping Karl Rove stops talking.
Days after the prominent Republican strategist said the latest McCain campaign ads had "gone too far" and failed the "100 percent truth test," Rove told the Associated Press Wednesday he thinks the choice of Sarah Palin was a political one and that the excitement she has generated will soon wear off.
"Nothing lasts for 60-some-odd days," he told the Associated Press. "Will she be the center of attention in the remaining 48 days? No, but she came on in a very powerful way and has given a sense of urgency to the McCain campaign that's pretty remarkable."
Related: Palin excitement levels off
Rove also described the choice of Palin as a "political pick," and said she was not the most qualified Republican McCain could have chosen. But Rove also said Joe Biden, who has spent three decades in the Senate, was also a political pick - designed to make up for Barack Obama's relatively short resume.
"I think the American people have deep and persistent doubts about the readiness of this dynamic and charismatic first-term senator from Illinois," said Rove.
Rove's comments also come days after he wrote a column in the Wall Street Journal advising Barack Obama to stop attacking Palin directly, noting past attempts by Democratic presidential nominees to attack the No. 2 on the GOP ticket have largely fell flat.
“It's a match-up he'll lose," Rove writes Thursday in his regular Wall Street Journal column. "If Mr. Obama wants to win, he needs to remember he's running against John McCain for president, not Mrs. Palin for vice president."
Rove also told the AP Obama is an "arrogant dilettante," but continued to offer the Illinois senator advice on how to win the election: "The way that Obama can win is by explaining, expounding on who he is."
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
Probably Rove is not really trying to give any positive advice to anyone. He is just trying to improve his image and very low approval ratings. He has even lower approval ratings than Bush and Cheney which is pretty sad. Many people think he should have been forced to face hearings and maybe criminal charges. Whatever he says should be taken with a grain of salt and a lot of caution. Recently on the Daily show they showed him before Obama picked his VP ripping Kaine because he was just a governor and wasn't qualified and then they fast forwarded to him praising McCain's pick of Palin even though she has a lot less experience. On that same show, they showed O'Reily saying really horrible things about Jaime Lyn Sears unwed pregancy and blaming the parents. Then they fastforwarded a few months to him praising the Palins. There's a lot of double talk and hypocracy from both Rove and O'Reilly.
Rove is so out of touch with the base anymore, I don't think anyone should take his advice seriously. (although I can't help agreeing with him that Palin's charm will quickly fade).
Anyone notice that McCain is looking more and more confused??
MCCAIN AND PALIN GET SOME NEW LINES. BUT, YOU SHALL. FIRST TOP LYING. AMERICAN PEOPLES, SEE AND HEAR. WHAT WE MAYBE GETTING FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. A HOCKEYMOM AND A HER PITTBULL ON A LEACH.
Wow! Karl Roves got more chins than a Chinese phone book.
We need a 911 panel to investigate the statements by KR
McCain should have picked Huckabee instead of taking a chance on a dangerous and incapable unknown. Now I'm going to vote for Obama, because at least both of them are reasonably capable of doing the job of the president. McCain might be able to be President, but Palin isn't even able to be vice president, she has no idea what a vice president even does. And if something happens to McCain, Caribou Barbie will be the leader of the free world!
Obama 08, or even Barr 08, but definitely not McCain Ever.
In the town hall meeting she never answered the specifics of her foreign policies and was beating around the bush.
Can she name the captial and heads of the countires of the close allies of USA?
By Maverick, Bill, do you mean someone who caves to his party base instead of standing up for what he believes? Anyone remember the good old days of the straight talk express?
Republicans for Obama. It's the smart choice!
Karl Rove is definitley up to something. Maybe he see's the writing on the wall and is thinking of trying to switch sides. But the democrats would never have him. Karl Rove is a pathetic excuse for an American, along with The whole Bush administration, McCain and Palin. Don't let them take our country any lower!! Vote Obama/Biden!!!
I smell a RAT. Rove is up to something. Be careful people!
If McCain really put "Country First" as he claims, he would have picked Mitt Romney for VP.
No, instead he went for Republican first, took a gamble to capitalise on the Hillary voter angst, and is now trying to lie his way to power.
Country First my hat. Enough is enough!
Obama-Biden 2008.
Who is the scariest:
Bush
Cheney
Rove
Palin
The all make my sick and my flesh crawl.Uhhhhhhhhhh!
Karl is up to something fishy here. someone needs to guard the back door, it seems karl is trying to slip in. can you say TROJAN HORSE.
she's gettin heckled in iowa.
i love iowa.
iowa loves barack.
Palin/McCain is a disgrace to Republicans and an insult to the American voter ! True, a large part of the American electorate is rather ...simple – but even for those Palin/McCain has to be too stupid (I hope).
I think even Karl Rove (who has always put his personal interests above those of the country) realizes that Palin is a serious detriment to the Republicans grand scheme of things. She is starting to do some real damage to the brand in the sense that they are now viewed as desperate and needy... that is something that could never have been said of Bush and his cronies.
Karl Rove is up to something but eventually his plan will be revealed.
I wouldn't trust him with a pig and a tube of lipstick
Palin in no way overshadows the career history, the preparedness to lead, and the vision of a McCain Presidency.
Clearly–she is a phenomenon–and may have a political future in her own right. But there is only one choice for President.
You can choose an agent (mindless, and inexperienced) of change like Obama.
Or a seasoned veteran who has warned of many of the problems we are facing today–while a lone Senator. A war hero–who has exulted in victory–and suffered at the hands of an enemy. Who better than anyone understands ALL of the roles of the President: negotiate treaties, preside as Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces; preside of exectution of the laws of the land; preserve the peace; defend the safety and security of the United States.
Palin is great. And clearly...she has more executive experience than the Democratic candidate and teh VP candidate–but she is running for VP slot. Nobody is more cognizant of that fact than Palin.
She will defer to the expert.
The citizens will make the right choice. Despite Mr. Rove.
We Already Know She Was Picked As A Ploy! Her Shine Is Gone!
KARL ROVE defending Democrats saying once that McCain's ads were too over the top and now saying Palin-mania will soon play out? This is truely the end of the world. When will the 7 horsemen of the apacolypse show up?
Obama 08!!!!!!!
Willing to take a chance. I love my country to much to see a it go down hill by the republicans.
The writing on the wall speaks of a G.O.P demise. When and if Obama wins, Rove knows that it will be open season on his party. Becoming more personal and transparent is his way of trying to protect himself and the G.O.P. from political extinction.
ONE NATION
Typical male-speak. Just can't stand it that a woman has the spotlight.
I thought it was dead already.
Palin is a joke.
Even Chuck Hagel knows that.....