Rovian math

I'm beginning to think that Karl Rove just doesn't know the meaning of the word "mandate." This is from his surprise appearance at Republican governor's convention:

Some who attended said that Mr. Rove emphasized Mr. Bush's increased margins among distinct segments of the electorate – Hispanics, women, evangelicals, and others. A major theme was how these added majorities justified the president's claim of having received a mandate in the Nov. 2 vote.

Well, let's see. Kerry won among women 51-48, the exact margin of Bush's popular vote "mandate," which would mean the Bush team would have to concede that Kerry won a mandate from the women of America. Kerry won the Latino vote 53-44, an even larger mandate.

So for Rove to claim an increase in these margins justifies a mandate is faulty logic at best. Had Bush actually won amongst these groups, then you would see a more legitimate claim. Instead, Rove continues to deepen the two colors of America, the side who believes the smallest margin of victory ever for an incumbent war time President is a mandate, and the other side which knows better.