Leaked Rove Disk: Hutchison, Bob Smith Races Tight
Sunday, June 16, 2002
newsmax.com
A computer disc containing an analysis of the upcoming 2002 November election prepared by a White House political operative fell into the hands of a Senate Democrat aide, according to reports in Roll Call and the Washington Post.
The Democrat aide, who has distributed it, claimed he found the disk lying on a sidewalk.
The analysis, prepared by President Bush's top political adviser, Karl Rove, and White House political director Ken Mehlman, consists primarily of publicly available information such as poll results and data from past elections.
It revealed only one piece of information not already in the public domain: White House speculation that Republican senators Tim Hutchinson of Arkansas and Bob Smith of New Hampshire are in grave danger of being defeated in November.
While admitting that he had no idea how the document leaked, Mehlman told Roll Call that the map that indicated the two senators' poor chances is "an old map," adding that "Those characterizations are not accurate."
"All of those races are races where our candidates are in a strong position to put these elections away. I think Tim Hutchinson will win the race," he said, adding that the five GOP challengers in Georgia, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and South Dakota "are in a much stronger position than Mark Pryor," Hutchinson's opponent in Arkansas. And he said that New Hampshire will stay competitive because of the late primary.
Democrats are enjoying the leaked document caper. "This ain't bad for a White House that's supposed to be leak-proof," one senior Democratic aide told Roll Call, adding that "Somebody better tell 'Boy Wonder' [Rove] to get the hole in his suit jacket fixed."
But the circumstances strongly indicate that the story of how the document came into the possession of a Democrat aide when he found it on a sidewalk may not be the whole story. Cynics say that it's too much of a coincidence to believe that the disc just happened to be found by a Democrat Senate aide who just happened to lean over and pick it up.
The 27-page Power Point document, a copy of which was viewed by NewsMax.com, is loaded with charts that illustrate the details involved in the upcoming elections.
Among the presentation's conclusions:
Control of Congress will turn on a handful of races decided by local issues, candidate quality, money raised, campaign performance, etc.
One Party Will Make History.
For Republicans:
The party in the White House has won House seats in only three out of last 25 midterm elections.
The White House party has lost Senate seats in 16 of 22 midterms since direct elections began.
For Democrats: Only three times has either party gained House seats four elections in a row.
The Republican Party is in a strong position.
Congressional Republicans and Democrats are at parity in the generic ballot - Republicans trailed in 1994.
Where Democrats get their money (2000 Figures):
AFL-CIO $45.0 million
Emily's List $20.0 million
Planned Parenthood $14.0 million (Is it any surprise Democrats support abortion?)
NAACP $11.0 million
Sierra Club $ 9.5 million
NEA $ 9.0 million
NARAL $ 8.0 million
Handgun Control $ 5.0 million
LCV $ 4.0 million
2000 totals $125.5 million
Democratic Strategy:
Support president on war.
Question president's Middle East strategy.
Attack on domestic agenda - Social Security, health care costs, environment, education.
Use budget, tax cuts and Enron for class warfare.
Divide president and congressional Republicans.
Maximize outside resources.
Republican Strategy:
Focus on war and economy.
Promote compassion agenda - education, welfare, faith.
Highlight Democrats' obstructionism on judges, agenda.
Mobilize GOP base, reach out to Hispanics, unions, African-Americans.
Create strong teamwork between White House, political committees and members.
Maximize outside resources and create new forums. |
