Will Republicans Fire Karl Rove?

He’s deflecting blame and says he’ll be back, but his brand is damaged

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By Felix Gillette

November 16, 2012 at 7:11 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

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This article is part of the November 19, 2012 issue of businessweek.

It happens all the time in advertising. A big campaign ends in disappointment. A once-dominant brand is no longer selling like it did, and the formerly hot agency overseeing the account seems to have run out of magic. Who’s to blame? Is it the product, or is it the strategist? The account is put up for review, and ultimately the client must decide if it’s time to move the marketing budget to a new agency to find a new genius.

Such is the situation in which GOP donors now find themselves in the wake of a disappointing presidential campaign. Their candidate lost. Their market share in Congress decreased. Their brand is suffering. As a result, a question hangs over the party: Should Republicans continue to rely on Karl Rove as their top marketer?