Washington's 'most powerful' gets even more political clout

WASHINGTON — Karl Rove's promotion Tuesday elevated his image from the most powerful presidential adviser in modern times to, well, an even more powerful presidential adviser.

Rove, whose "senior adviser" title understated his influence, now also has the title "deputy White House chief of staff." The promotion expands his official portfolio from politics and strategy to coordination of foreign and domestic policies.

"Put me down saying positive things, because he's obviously the most powerful man in Washington," said Mike McCurry, a top adviser to Sen. John Kerry's presidential campaign and former spokesman for President Clinton. "He very clearly is not a man you want to be on the wrong side of."

McCurry's lighthearted reaction reflected a belief in the capital that Rove has unprecedented clout. In November, Bush credited him as "the architect" of his re-election, but his influence has always extended beyond politics.

Former Bush aide John DiIulio told Esquire after he resigned in 2001 that Rove is "maybe the single most powerful person in the modern, post-Hoover era ever to occupy a political adviser post near the Oval Office."

Not everyone thinks that's a good thing. "Empowering Rove in this way shows that Bush cares more about political positioning than honest policy discussions," said Terry McAuliffe, chairman of the Democratic National Committee. "Bush knows that Rove is neither an economic nor a national security expert. He is simply an ideological strategist."

Ken Mehlman, who ran Bush's 2004 campaign and is chairman of the Republican National Committee, said Rove was never just a political adviser."He's always interested in the policy first," he said.

Rove, 54, ran Bush's two successful campaigns for Texas governor and oversaw both of Bush's presidential campaigns. A book title in 2003 cemented the not-exactly-complimentary nickname "Bush's Brain." When someone leaked the identity of CIA officer Valerie Plame to reporters in 2003, supposedly in retaliation for her husband's criticism of the administration, White House spokesman Scott McClellan was asked at a briefing for reporters whether Rove did it. "Totally ridiculous," he said.

Rove never finished college, but he's an avid reader and historian. During last year's campaign, he had staff meetings in his kitchen as he cooked breakfast.

He has become a political celebrity. Fans can search the Internet and buy a camisole ($17.99) or boxer shorts ($14.99) featuring his photo inside a pink heart.

Grover Norquist, of the conservative group Americans for Tax Reform, a Rove adviser, said Rove is so close to Bush that he "doesn't need a title," but the new one formalizes a role Rove has long played and makes the White House structure more coherent. "You couldn't have done this in 2004 because people would have said, 'Oh, this is political,' " he said.

Announcing Rove's expanded role, Bush said his "hard work and dedication have been invaluable. I appreciate Karl's willingness to continue to serve my administration."