North Dakota Republicans gearing up for next year's elections will take notes later this month from the man credited with getting President Bush in the White House.
Karl Rove, White House deputy chief of staff, is slated to speak at the state Republican Party committee meeting Sept. 24 in Fargo, Party Chairman Ken Karls said Thursday.
Rove, a shrewd political strategist, directed the president's two successful campaigns. He was appointed deputy White House chief of staff after Bush's re-election in 2004.
Karls said Rove is stopping in Fargo to help raise money for next year's legislative and statewide races, and to energize the party's district leaders and volunteers.
"We thought Karl Rove would be an ideal person to do that," he said.
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Rove may help the state's Republicans raise money, but he won't improve the party's image," state Democratic Party spokesman Rick Gion said.
"Carl Rove is the poster child for dirty politics," Gion said. "He won't do a lot of good, from a PR standpoint anyway."
Republican Gov. John Hoeven, lobbied by the White House to run against Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad is expected to attend the party meeting and fundraiser and to visit with Rove.
Hoeven would be the GOP's first serious contender since 1986 - when Conrad defeated Sen. Mark Andrews.
Hoeven declined to say if he will run for the Senate.
"I'm very focused on the job of governor," he said. "I don't want to speculate on another office."
Hoeven's close ties to the Bush administration have fueled rumors that he may run against Conrad, who won re-election to a fourth term in 2000.
Hoeven and first lady Mikey Hoeven were overnight guests of Bush in March. Three months later, Hoeven met with Rove during a trip to Washington.
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Since Hoeven was first elected in 2000, Bush has visited North Dakota twice, as has Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns.
Conrad said he doesn't believe Hoeven will run against him next year.
"He made it very clear when he was seeking his re-election that he would serve out his term and I believe he will," Conrad said.
Hoeven's second term ends in 2008.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Jeff Zent at (701) 241-5526
