Karl Rove to Leave Bush White House

A White House spokeswoman confirmed the resignation, describing it as a "big loss".

Photo courtesy; White House

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Karl Rove, the man credited by many with winning George W. Bush the last two US presidential elections, has resigned effective August 31st.

Rove, the president's deputy chief of staff, said he would leave his role to spend more time with his family.

Perhaps Bush's most powerful White House aide, Rove submitted his resignation to Bush on Friday, he told CNN's Suzanne Malveaux in an e-mail.

Both Rove and the president are expected to speak before boarding Marine One at the White House at 11:35 a.m. ET.

Bush is heading to his Crawford, Texas, ranch where he will remain for the rest of the week.

Bush nicknamed Rove "the architect" for creating the plan that won the White House in 2000 and 2004.

Rove told the Wall Street Journal that he thought Hillary Clinton -- a "tough, tenacious, fatally flawed candidate" -- would win the 2008 presidential nomination.

Rove's election campaign clients have included George W. Bush (2000 and 2004 presidential elections, 1994 and 1998 Texas gubernatorial elections), Senator John Ashcroft (1994 US Senate election), Bill Clements (1986 Texas gubernatorial election), Senator John Cornyn, Governor Rick Perry (1990 Texas Agriculture Commission election), and Phil Gramm (1982 US House and 1984 U.S. Senate elections).

Salem-News.com will have more on this story as soon as it becomes available.