Just read a great story in The New Yorker by Jeffery Goldberg;Party Unfaithful...the Republican implosion.In the story Newt blastes Roves '04 election strategy as "maniacally dumb".I disagree.The key,in politics,is GET YOUR CANDIDATE ELECTED.Rove did that.

In 2000 the Bush campaign got 2 shocks 1.The drubbing they took in the NH primary 2.The virtual tie with Gore in Fla.They recovered from NH but Fla was near fatal.W did not want to follow in Bush the elders footsteps & began almost at once running for re election.

In '02 Rove went electorial..nailed down the base with candidates,for US Senate,in Ga,NC,SC,Texas & Tn.& went after '00 near misses with candidates in Minn,Mo & a candidate to hold NH,which Bush won by a razor thin plurality.All won & in Fla brother Jeb got a big win. Do well in those states hold Ohio & its over.Bush won all but NH & Minn.

The next step was to target 4 million evangelicals that did not vote in '00 & turn em out in '04.Just look at Bush's vote in Knox County if you dont think Roves turn out tactic worked...110,000 votes is off the charts.

Was Rove "maniacally dumb"..no..he got his candidate re-elected.
But for the Republican Party was it a Faustian bargain?