Bad Call

Karl Rove in the WSJ: Romney 51%, at Least 279 Electoral Votes

In his final pre-election WSJ column, Karl Rove predicted Romney would win roughly 51% to 48% with at least 279 electoral votes, probably more.

First reported Nov 1, 2012 · The Wall Street Journal (op-ed), Fox News (contributor)

Screenshot of the original report as published — Screenshot of the report as published: online.wsj.com (archived copy, Wayback Machine). Tap to open the source.

Who it helped: Republicans

The forecast reassured Republican readers that Romney was on track to win.

What was reported

In his final pre-election WSJ column, Karl Rove predicted Romney would win roughly 51% to 48% with at least 279 electoral votes, probably more.

What actually happened

Rove, a Fox News contributor who also helped run a major pro-Romney super PAC, made the call against the consensus of polling averages. Obama won 51% to 47% and 332 electoral votes to 206. On election night Rove disputed Fox's own Ohio call on air.

The proof

Certified 2012 results: Obama 332 electoral votes, Romney 206.

The receipt. Copy this and paste it anywhere:

Karl Rove in the WSJ: Romney 51%, at Least 279 Electoral Votes — Bad Call. Certified 2012 results: Obama 332 electoral votes, Romney 206. Full file: https://www.thepropagandafiles.com/case/rove-wsj-romney-279-prediction-2012/

Original reporting

Wall Street Journal: Karl Rove column (Nov. 1, 2012)http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204846304578090820229096046.html?mod=ITP_opinion_0
Newser (secondary): Rove — Romney's going to win a squeakerhttps://www.newser.com/story/156810/rove-romneys-going-to-win-a-squeaker.html

Corrections, findings & records

Media Matters: Rove's final pre-election WSJ columnhttps://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2012/11/01/roves-final-pre-election-wsj-column-again-expos/191050
ThinkProgress: The ten worst predictions of the 2012 electionhttps://thinkprogress.org/the-ten-worst-predictions-of-the-2012-election-2372d11ab4b3/

Archived copies

Stories get edited after publication. These open the Internet Archive's earliest saved copy of each original.

Archived copy: Wall Street Journal: Karl Rove column (Nov. 1, 2012)https://web.archive.org/web/2/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204846304578090820229096046.html?mod=ITP_opinion_0
Archived copy: Newser (secondary): Rove — Romney's going to win a squeakerhttps://web.archive.org/web/2/https://www.newser.com/story/156810/rove-romneys-going-to-win-a-squeaker.html