Quote:

---

“The architect” says Republicans have a long way to go until there’s a Republican presidential nominee in 2012.

“There are going to be several geological ages that are going to come and go before the 2012 presidential nomination gels,” Karl Rove, former senior adviser to President George W. Bush, said Sunday on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “Every one of these perspective candidates, if they decide to enter the race, has strengths that they need to work on magnifying and weaknesses that they need to endeavor to overcome.”

And what about a President Palin?

“I don’t know whether she’s going to run or not, and if she runs she would be a formidable candidate,” Rove said.

Rove also clarified his opinion of the Tea Party after talk radio host Rush Limbaugh criticized him for calling the Tea Party unsophisticated, something he said he did not mean as an insult given his definition of the word.

“These are not people who are skilled in the ways of Washington. They don’t want to be. They’re ordinary Americans from Main Street America who have created a massive grassroots effort driven by a sentiment in this country,” Rove said. “I consider it to be wholesome, patriotic and incredibly positive for the country.”

---