STRATEGY

Rove is Back to Save GOP

Raising millions for this November.

Just when you thought he was out, they pulled him back in. Karl Rove, the master Republican strategist who orchestrated the reelection of George W. Bush is working behind the scenes for this November, building a “shadow Republican party” since April. Rove has wooed several wealthy Republican donors to form a series of outside groups with onetime lobbyist and Bush White House counselor Ed Gillespie, and former Vice President Dick Cheney’s daughter Mary Cheney. The groups, including American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS, have raised $32 million, filling the void left by the contentious Republican National Committee, led by Michael Steele. Plans at American Crossroads consist of many anti-Democratic attack ads, 40 million negative mail pieces, and 20 million automatic phone calls, according to officials there. “They’re running a very proficient party operation funded by millions of dollars of undisclosed special-interest dollars,” said David Axelrod, a special adviser to President Obama. “These guys are great political operatives, and they will have an impact in this election.”