“An attempt at political inoculation? For the Dem and RINO criticisms of O’Donnell after they were as of just yesterday toasting Karl Rove? That would be slick - but I don’t know if it would be necessary.”
Perhaps. But in O’Donnell’s case, she was in a bruising primary but only 6-7 weeks out from general election. She didn’t have the luxury of time, like Rand Paul and Sharonn Angle. They both got similarly pilloried, but over time got their message out and either pulled even (Angle) or surged far ahead (Paul). O’Donnell also was faced with prospect of very little $. Just think, if she had not received all this opprobrium (with the flames panned by stalwarts of her own party), where would she be now? Maybe 8+ points behind, little $, and little chance of making up ground in this very shortened election cycle (for Delaware). Again, I’m not saying this was a strategy, but there are some very strategic thinkers involved here. Also, like most on FR, I was apoplectically furious w/ Rove. But, I was also perplexed. He’s a paid consultant - that gives him far more $ than the Fox gig. What could he possibly gain by being the most visible guy in O’Donnell’s destruction and, as a result, the Repub’s loss of Senate control? I don’t see how he would gain at all. But, being the very visible bogeyman, taking the heat (and he’s gotten a ton), and driving anti-establishment $ into her coffers on an accelerated timetable might make sense -especially as he’s tonight indicating that she’s beginning to “answer the questions”.
Again, maybe too tinfoil-hat-ish, but it provides a possible explanation (admittedly fanciful).
No, I originally thought that it was a strategy.
Maybe it is. Maybe the strategy was to get all the neocons kicked out of the Republican Party. That strategy is working well.
In looking at the polls, I’m seeing results recently that do not please me. The Wednesday last week Rasmussen was really good. The Fox not as good, the CNN not as good.
The proof is in the pudding. If Christine wins handily (a very real possibility - she is after all by far the best candidate), we wouldn’t fault Rove. He was out front, orchestrating a complex strategy. He is suspect of being a neocon however. If he can somehow “take the neocons away”, excellent. Because some of these neocons were actually mocking her. Rove is being tough, but I don’t think he mocked her. I could be wrong.
I did not want to think that the Rove attacks were actually hurting, in the immediate time frame. These polls indicate that the attacks did hurt. Would’ve preferred they didn’t.