If Fox News is part of your DNA chain, you probably think he’s a genius.
In contrast, the mere mention of the name Karl Rove tends to make the MsNBC demographic shudder.
To them, he is a mad scientist.
Rove, the neo-conservative lightning rod who served as senior adviser and deputy chief of staff to President George W. Bush, is joining the fray of the GOP Senate primary race here.
Rove will stump for former Congressman Christopher Shays Thursday at Greenwich home of retired investment banker Sidney Goodfriend, the founder of American Corporate Partners, a nonprofit organization that helps assist veterans with the transition from the military to the civilian workforce..
A self-proclaimed centrist who is out to burnish his credentials among conservative primary voters, Shays was beat out by wrestling mogul Linda McMahon last month for the GOP endorsement at the state party convention.
Shays is asking his supporters for $1,000 a head to schmooze with Rove, according to his campaign.
“Karl Rove is coming because he knows that Chris is the only Republican who can win in November,” said Amanda Bergen, a spokeswoman for Shays. “He is supporting Chris because he knows that Chris has the experience necessary to hit the ground running on day one.”
Rove’s visit will culminate a busy week of fundraising for Shays, who is in Washington, D.C., tonight for a reception with Republican Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Roy Blount of Missouri.
The campaign of McMahon, who Republicans entrusted with their nomination two years ago for Senate but lost the general election to Democrat Richard Blumenthal, responded that the company that Shays is keeping is only validation of his insider status.
“It’s no surprise that long-time Washington politicians wants Chris Shays back in the club,” Erin Isaac said on behalf of McMahon.
“Linda McMahon will be beholden to the people of Connecticut, not special interests or PACS. Chris Shays believes all wisdom begins and ends with Washington insiders, Linda believes it begins and ends here, at home with the hardworking people of Connecticut.”
Chris LaCivita, a GOP strategist on McMahon’s payroll and media adviser to the Swift Boat Veterans group that dogged Democrat John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election, sent out a mass e-mail this morning to his contacts in Washington with the subject line “DON’T waste your money” at tonight’s fundraiser for Shays.