Karl Rove: GOP Candidate With 'Vision' Could Defeat Hillary

Many swing voters seem inclined not to vote for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton — so long as her Republican opponent offers an alternative vision "delivered with passion, sincerity, and authenticity," wrote Karl Rove in The Wall Street Journal.

Clinton's campaign kicked off with an uninspiring and dubious try at appealing to ordinary Americans, the veteran Republican strategist wrote in an opinion piece. She embarked on a journey to Iowa in a customized luxury van dubbed Scooby.

Polls conducted by Crossroads GPS, an issue-advocacy group, in 15 battleground states revealed that the former first lady, senator and secretary of state would go down to defeat against a "generic" Republican opponent, said Rove, who works as a volunteer with Crossroads. Her unfavorable ratings started out at 44 percent, and climbed to 51 percent when those surveyed were exposed to statements about her record, he said.

Additionally, 71 percent believe Clinton would carry on President Barack Obama's policies, according to Rove.

Clinton is a known quantity with hardcore supporters and firm opponents. Her running as a woman has limited appeal — with 80 percent claiming it makes no difference. It is noteworthy that "undecided voters appear to lean against rather than for her," Rove wrote.

"Among the plurality in these battleground states who support a generic Republican over Mrs. Clinton, 51 percent say their vote would be for the Republican candidate's ideas and policies while 37 percent said their vote would be against Mrs. Clinton," Rove said.

This means that a GOP candidate who can express vision would probably do better against Clinton than one who mostly just talked her down. That is "something Republicans should keep in mind as they select their nominee," he wrote.

Meanwhile, Clinton's senior adviser and campaign traveling companion Huma Abedin is facing fresh scrutiny. It has been revealed that while she worked at the State Department, earning $135,000, she was given an exemption that allowed her to draw $355,000 from Teneo, a public relations firm established by a former staffer to President Bill Clinton, Rove wrote.

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