Rove to Lieberman: Drop the VP Run

GOP honcho wants Mitt Romney in No.2 slot

By Ambreen Ali, Newser User

Posted Aug 28, 2008 8:00 AM CDT

(Newser) – Preaching to the GOP from his Fox News seat isn't enough for Karl Rove, Politico reports. The ex-Bush strategist called Joe Lieberman last week to convince him to withdraw his name from VP consideration; Lieberman laughed off the call and hasn't called it quits just yet. Rove's guy is Mitt Romney. “Rove is pushing Romney so aggressively some folks are beginning to wonder what's going on,” says one GOP strategist.

News of the Rove call comes after Robert Novak yesterday wrote a piece suggesting McCain's inner circle would like to tap Lieberman, but worry that he's a pro-choice former Democrat. And while Lieberman's supporters think he can differentiate McCain from Bush, most Republicans think the Connecticut senator would split the party's conservative base. McCain announces his pick tomorrow.

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

McCain is considering Lieberman, an ex-Democrat, for vice president. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Karl Rove asked Joe Lieberman, pictured, to pull out his VP candidacy. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

Republican strategist Karl Rove, perhaps the most influential political strategist of the decade, has been preaching to the McCain camp from his Fox News post. (AP Photo/The Star Tribune,Jennifer Simonson)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

“Romney is already vetted by the media, has strong executive experience both in business and in government, has an interesting story to tell with saving the US Olympics, and also helps McCain deal with the economy.” - Karl Rove, not a fan of Joe Lieberman

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Palin Approval Runs Along Partisan Lines

Poll: VP pick creates sharp divides, making overall impact a wash

(NEWSER) - About half of the public had a favorable first impression of vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin, and that half consists primarily of Republicans, a new ABC News poll finds. This not-so-shocking divide mirrors the numbers on Joe Biden: his candidacy makes 22% of people more likely to support the Obama ticket and 10% less likely. More»

McCain, VP Hopeful Ridge Campaign in Pa.

Indepedent/Dem mayor expected to endorse Mac today

(NEWSER) - Republican vice presidential hopeful Tom Ridge is campaigning with John McCain in Pennsylvania today, CNN reports. McCain and ex-Pennsylvania governor Ridge started the day meeting with employees at a GE plant. Asked what he would do on first taking office, McCain replied, “Call Tom Ridge to Washington from whatever vacation he is taking and get him to work." More»

Karl Rove, Ken Mehlman Advise McCain Campaign

More Bush buddies work for senator

(NEWSER) - Major Bush pals Ken Mehlman and Karl Rove are jumping aboard the Straight Talk Express, both informally advising John McCain, a top aide to the GOP hopeful tells Politico. Mehlman, who ran Bush’s 2004 campaign, is an unpaid, outside adviser, while Rove recently donated to McCain and had a closed-door conversation with the senator. The pair add to an increasing number of Bushies on the trail. More»

GOP Bluebloods Should Stop Bashing Tea Party

Classim isn't helping their case, Glenn Greenwald says

(NEWSER) - The Republican Old Guard should stop dissing less pedigreed newcomers who share their far-right views, argues Glenn Greenwald on Salon . The radical "commonsense conservatism" espoused by the likes of Sarah Palin and Christine O'Donnell is not much different than the Bush doctrine, yet Karl Rove feels it necessary to call out her "character and rectitude." What gives? Classism, says Greenwald. More»

Palin Wishes She'd Talked to the Media More

Governor wishes she'd spoken to reporters more

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin wishes she’d interacted with the media more while campaigning with John McCain, the Alaska governor told Human Events. Palin identified her “biggest mistake” in the ’08 campaign as not taking a more active role in communicating with voters through the media. “I was not allowed to do very many interviews, and the interviews that I did were not necessarily those I would have chosen,” Palin said. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Rove to Lieberman: Drop the VP Run