Karl Rove Says He’s ‘Nervous’ About Republicans’ Midterm Convention

Republican strategist Karl Rove said Tuesday he is “a little bit nervous” about the GOP’s unprecedented midterm convention, warning that Republicans are making a late and risky bet on President Donald Trump with control of Congress on the line.

When asked by Fox News anchor Dana Perino on America’s Newsroom about the two-day gathering in Dallas, Texas, Rove questioned whether Republicans had left themselves enough time to capitalize on the event before November’s elections.

“I’m a little bit nervous about it because, look, we’re in the final stages of the campaign,” Rove said. “I’d be more comfortable if this had been held in June and July and set a thematic that could be pursued for four or five months rather than for 56 days.”

The convention, which begins Wednesday at the American Airlines Center, is an unusual experiment for Republicans. National party conventions are typically held during presidential election years, when delegates formally nominate a ticket and adopt a platform.

Rove noted that Democrats experimented with midterm conventions decades ago but that the party had ended up abandoning the idea “because they weren’t particularly helpful.”

Republicans are hoping for a different result as they try to defend their congressional majorities amid troubling polling for the president. Perino cited Reuters polling showing Trump with a 32% approval rating on the economy, while just 25% approved of his handling of the cost of living and 24% approved on inflation and prices.

Trump is set to dominate the Dallas event, delivering a keynote address Wednesday before returning Thursday following remarks by Vice President JD Vance.

“The White House is pushing a big bet, it’s like we’re at the tables, they’re pushing all the chips on saying if we make this about Donald Trump and if we make this about Donald Trump’s record and put him at the centre of this then we have a shot to pull this thing off,” Rove said.

Republicans reportedly plan to use the convention to highlight Trump’s tax cuts, border policies and domestic manufacturing agenda while casting the Democratic Party as increasingly dominated by its left flank.

Organizers expect roughly 30,000 attendees across the two days, with candidates in some of the country’s most competitive House and Senate races scheduled to appear.

Watch above via Fox News.

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