WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) - The man President George W. Bush called the "architect" of his re-election, Karl Rove, says for the first time more Republicans voted than did Democrats.
"This is the first time in recorded history -- the first time since we've been taking accurate public opinion surveys -- that this has ever happened," Rove told Fox News.
Rove is officially an assistant to Bush, but is better known as the chief strategist in Tuesday's election victory, as well as Bush's 2000 win.
Rove also told Fox, "The president won a majority of independents. He took twice as many Democrats -- more than twice as many Democrats -- as Kerry took of Republicans."
Rove said Bush's victory by three million votes broke all the rules.
"Think about all the conventional wisdom that lost," he told Fox.
"The bigger the turnout, the better Democrats will do -- big turnout, huge turnout, Bush wins.
"Late deciders are going to break against the incumbent and vote for the challenger -- didn't happen. They went for this president two-to-one.
"Undecided voters are going to break against this president, the incumbent, and go for the challenger -- didn't happen.
"Younger voters are going to turn out in record numbers and are going to oppose this president -- they turned out (in the) same percentage in the electorate that they were four years ago and this president barely lost them.
"And then, Democrats are going to enjoy a huge advantage among women voters this year -- that advantage shrunk down to ... less than four percent," he told the cable broadcaster.
Rove is variously praised and criticized for his unorthodox tactics. Opponents of his clients are often ruthlessly attacked, although Rove's fingerprints are rarely found.
Rove said Bush's confessions of faith while campaigning were an asset.
"The president is in touch people of faith who are concerned about the coarseness of our society, about a culture that seems unfriendly to the vulnerable, the weak and the young, who are concerned about there being a place in the public arena for people of faith," Rove told Fox.
11/06/2004 - 03:11 GMT - AFP