The other day Karl Rove spoke at the Republican National Committee's winter meeting. Coverage of the speech has been pretty much concerned only with Rove's criticisms of Democrats. But Rove also had plenty to say about what Republicans needed to do to hold the White House in 2008.
First, the GOP candidate must introduce himself to the American people. He has to, in Rove's words, "create a sustained narrative." Rove said, "The only people who know our candidates in-depth happen to live in states like Iowa, New Hampshire, and maybe South Carolina, so our candidate, first and foremost, has got to use the moments after they secure the nomination to go out and introduce themselves." The candidate has got to connect.
Second, the GOP candidate needs to "engage on the kitchen table issues." He has to talk about health care, the economy, education, and jobs. He has to seem engaged in the conversation.
Third, Rove said, "our candidate had better get out and campaign aggressively in places where Republicans don't normally campaign." The GOP must enter communities where it hasn't been in a long time, if at all. That includes African Americans, hispanics, Asian Americans, and downscale voters or Reagan Democrats. The GOP needs to be expand, not contract. It needs to be welcoming, not hostile.
The fourth thing the Republican candidate needs to do, Rove said, is demonstrate strength on the central issue of our time: Iraq. Republicans must show that "they understand that the surge is working; that all those defeatist and naysayers and negative people who said it won't work were wrong." The Republican nominee must present a striking contrast on the Iraq issue with whomever the Democrats nominate. The 2008 election won't be about whether or not it was a mistake to invade. It will be about how to build on our recent successes.
These, Rove said, are four things the GOP nominee "absolutely" has to do.
