Rove declined an interview request. Jonathan Collegio, a spokesman for the Conservative Victory Project and American Crossroads, said the groups had “come to the conclusion that we need to increase the caliber of candidates running for office in Republican primaries, and our goal is to elect the most conservative candidates in primaries who can win” general election contests against Democrats.
“We have made absolutely clear we are not trying to pick a fight with the Tea Party,” Collegio said. “We are simply trying to pick the best candidates available.”
That’s not how David Bossie, president of Citizens United, a Washington-based group that says it is “dedicated to restoring our government to citizens’ control,” sees it.
“I like it that voters get to decide,” Bossie said. “I think Rove is trying to defend himself and deflect from his failure. I hear from donors. I hear from grassroots people across the country who are offended by the very fact that Karl Rove thinks he knows best.”
“If American Crossroads has done a great job, why create some new entity with the name conservative in it?” Bossie asked. “So everybody thinks it’s good because it is from a conservative outfit?”
Governor’s Rebuke
Rove earned a rebuke from a leading Republican office-holder when the Conservative Victory Project indicated he would oppose U.S. Representative Steve King of Iowa should the Republican who is a favorite of Tea Party activists make a bid for the Senate seat Democratic incumbent Tom Harkin is giving up in the 2014 election.
Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, also a Republican, said Rove should leave the primary to Iowans.
Tim Albrecht, Branstad’s spokesman, said the governor “believes Karl Rove received his message, which is that meddling in the Iowa primary would be counter-productive to his efforts, and that Iowa Republicans will be making this decision.”
Collegio said he had no information on any talks between Rove and Branstad.