Karl Rove has made his choice: the former Bush strategist is siding with Rush Limbaugh over Colin Powell in the continuing intra-party Republican war of words.
Rove told Fox News that Limbaugh would edge out the former secretary of state if he "had to pick between the two." Limbaugh has said that former Secretary of State Powell, who publicly endorsed Barack Obama over John McCain, belongs in the Democratic Party. For his part, Powell says that Limbaugh is an entertainer who is driving the moderates out of the GOP.
"I have always felt that the Republican Party should be more inclusive than it generally has been over the years and I believe that we need a strong Republican Party that is not just anchored in the base but has built on the base to include more individuals," he told CBS’ "Face the Nation."
Ultimately, Rove said, the debate between Limbaugh and Powell is a "false" one because neither is a candidate for public office.
"The real debate takes place out there in the real world by people getting out there and encouraging the kind of candidates who represent their vision for the party," Rove said.
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