Rove hits the Eastside for some fundraising

Presidential adviser Karl Rove, a polarizing figure in the Bush administration, made a relatively quiet visit to the Eastside on Friday to raise money for U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert and the state Republican party.

Rove first met with a group of about 20 donors in an afternoon roundtable discussion at developer Kemper Freeman's offices on the top floor of Bellevue Square. Rove was expected to talk politics and take questions. Reichert, R-Auburn, also attended, campaign and party officials said.

Across the street from the mall, about 60 people protested Rove's visit.

The event raised tens of thousands of dollars for the state party's get-out-the-vote effort this fall, said GOP Chairwoman Diane Tebelius, who declined to say exactly how much. Rove then drove to the Medina home of venture capitalist John Connors, and his wife, Kathy, to raise money for Reichert's re-election campaign. The event was co-hosted by Martin Tobias, the CEO of Imperium Renewables, which develops biodiesel technology.

Rove spoke to about 100 people, all members of Reichert's "Dome Club," in which each person pays $1,000 a year to hear four speeches from party figures. U.S. Reps. Doc Hastings, R- Pasco, and Cathy McMorris, R-Spokane, spoke at the first event last spring, followed by former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich in July.

The guests, dressed in business attire, left their cars with a valet and perused the $8.8 million lakefront property. The event was expected to raise tens of thousands of dollars.

Rove was scheduled to be in Montana today for a fundraiser for U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns. According to an Associated Press report last month, Rove brought in $10.4 million in 75 events this election cycle. This was more than any Republican official other than the president, first lady and vice president, all of whom have also raised money in Washington state this year.

"People want to hear [Rove] because he's considered to be a very brilliant political strategist," Tebelius said.

The Rove protesters waved signs that criticized what they said was a connection between Bush's views and Reichert's voting record, with slogans like "No More Bushert" and "Reichert, Doing What He's Told Since 2005."

Reichert is running against Democrat Darcy Burner in the 8th Congressional District this fall.

Diane Lundeen Smith, 38, of Bellevue, said she didn't protest earlier visits by the president and first lady, but that Rove is a hired political operative whose tactics have "served to divide our country."

"Dave Reichert needs to decide: Is he representing the 8th District or is he a rubber stamp [for Bush]?" Lundeen Smith said. "By having Karl Rove here, he just answered that question."

Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell, who's running for re-election against Republican Mike McGavick, e-mailed her supporters Friday afternoon informing them of Rove's visit and asking them to donate money to Burner.

In the first five hours, Burner had received more than $35,000 in online donations, said Amanda Mahnke, Cantwell's spokeswoman.

Ashley Bach: 206-464-2567 or abach@seattletimes.com