Rove Shows Favoritism of Romney As GOP Candidate

Republican super strategist Karl Rove has refused to make a formal endorsement in the Republican presidential race. But in his commentary on Fox News and in The Wall Street Journal, Rove has extolled front-runner Mitt Romney’s virtues, while criticizing his various challengers throughout the campaign, according to Politico.

The news service cited eight different instances in which Rove, who was senior advisor to President George W. Bush, made comments praising Romney and/or criticizing his opponents. That includes calling Newt Gingrich a “whiner” and citing Rack Santorum for “unforced errors.” And after the Michigan and Arizona primaries went for Romney Feb. 28, Rove wrote that the race was moving “solidly in Mitt Romney’s direction.”

Bob Schuman, who was chairman of Americans for Rick Perry, sees Rove’s support of Romney simply as a matter of like supporting like. “Karl, he’s part of the establishment now,” Schuman told Politico. “And Romney’s the establishment candidate.”

But some backers of Romney’s rivals are upset with Rove’s strategy toward the race. “Speaking for myself, certainly there is some frustration when Rove poses as neutral in this race, but seems to be pushing information with a bias,” Tim LeFever, a Rick Santorum fundraiser, told Politico.