Rove denies calling Kagen his No. 1 target

[Ron Burgundy]

AP - Rep. Steve Kagen's congressional campaign claims in a fundraising e-mail that former White House political adviser Karl Rove called him the top target this year — but Rove says he has no recollection of ever saying that.

"Karl Rove has already declared Congressman Steve Kagen their #1 candidate to beat in 2008," says the e-mail from the freshman Wisconsin Democrat, who is seeking re-election to his House seat. "That means unlimited special-interest money to pay for their negative campaign."

In addition to Rove's denial, an Associated Press search of Nexis could find no stories that quote Rove making that comment. Kagen's campaign offered sources, but none provided any solid documentation to back up the assertion.

One, a January 2007 White House Office of Political Affairs memo titled "2008 House Targets: Top 20," lists Kagen but also 19 other congressional Democrats. Another is a September 2006 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel blog about Rove being the guest at a Washington fundraiser for Kagen's GOP opponent, John Gard. But that makes no mention of Rove calling Kagen the number 1 target, and in any event, the fundraiser was for the 2006 race, not this year's, which features a Kagen-Gard rematch.

This isn't Kagen's first tussle with Rove. Last year, Kagen apologized to constituents in his first month on the job after telling a group of peace activists that he had taunted Rove, Vice President Dick Cheney and First Lady Laura Bush at a White House reception for new lawmakers.

According to a story in The Scene, a Wisconsin monthly, Kagen, a wealthy allergist, said he saw Rove in the bathroom, blocked his exit and said, "You're in the White House and you think you're safe, huh? You recognize me? My name's Dr. Multimillionaire and I kicked your ass."

The White House denied that account, and Kagen later apologized for his "mishandled attempt at humor."

In a statement provided to The Associated Press, Rove's office said, "Karl Rove has no recollection of ever saying that Rep. Steve Kagen was the Number 1 candidate to beat in 2008. Perhaps his recollection of Karl saying this is as vivid and wrong as that of his first visit to the White House."

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080818/ap_on_el_ho/kagen_rove [link]