Former Bush advisor Karl Rove says he believes former Alaska governor Sarah Palin will enter the Republican presidential race sometime around Labor Day. Appearing on Fox News Saturday morning, Rove said Palin "has a schedule next week that looks like that of a candidate, not a celebrity." Rove also cited a new campaign-style video Palin has released on her recent visit to the Iowa State Fair as evidence Palin is gearing up for a run. Palin will be the keynote speaker at the Tea Party of America's "Restoring America" event in Iowa September 3. The event location was recently moved from Waukee, Iowa, to Indianola, Iowa to accommodate a larger crowd.
"This is her last chance," Rove said. "She either gets in or gets out [after the Iowa visit]. I think she gets in."
A late entry into Iowa always raises questions about whether a candidate has the time to raise money, build an organization and meet voters face-to-face. Rove was asked whether a Palin candidacy might operate from "a different playbook" -- that is, one that does not touch the traditional bases in Iowa. "She thinks the normal rules don't apply," Rove said. "If you're Sarah Palin, you just show up and the money comes and the organization comes and the people come."
Rove has been accused in recent days of trying to meddle in the Republican race, particularly in critical comments about Texas Gov. Rick Perry, with whom the Texan Rove, a longtime member of the Bush camp, has had a long rivalry. On Fox Saturday, Rove gave a passing grade to Perry's record of jobs creation in Texas. "He has inherited a good jobs picture and managed it well," Rove said.
Rove also said he is "aware of some very significant people who have picked up the phone" to urge Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan to run, but offered no other details.
As for Palin, Rove has long expressed skepticism about whether Palin can win using a non-traditional campaign strategy. Back in May, Rove told Fox's Greta van Susteren, "I don't think she thinks the rules apply to her. She doesn't need to have the traditional trappings of a presidential campaign. No finance committee, she can raise the money. She doesn't need to go and shake a lot of hands in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina."
"Is she right about that?" van Susteren asked.
"Look, politics is changing," Rove said. "My sense is her people don't think she needs to have county chairman and organizations and go around and line up people. It's just going to happen."