The Hill: Karl Rove raises $12M in the 2006 cycle

Rove raises $12M in the 2006 cycle
By Alexander Bolton

White House politico Karl Rove, whose legacy as a strategist hinges on Republicans’ fate at the polls on Nov. 7, has raised more than $12 million for GOP candidates this election cycle.

The total is remarkable for a White House staffer, more than any aide has been known to raise before, and confirms Rove’s place among the most celebrated strategists in American political history....

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Rove appears to have stepped up his fundraising appearances since special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald told his lawyer in June that he is no longer under investigation for leaking the name of CIA operative Valerie Plame to the press.

Rove’s fundraising total also shows that despite Democrats’ persistent efforts to demonize him, most recently by publicizing the number of contacts he had with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, Rove remains very popular with rank-and-file conservatives.

White House officials have sought to keep Rove’s campaign activity quiet in part because of a prevailing belief that staff should stay behind the scenes and not compete for attention with Bush and Cheney. And Rove, whom Bush has nicknamed “turd blossom,” has carefully adopted a self-deprecating posture....

http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/101106/rove4.html

lists. Not to mention the list of war profiteers kicking back big bucks as planned.