"If you really want to diminish a candidate, depict him as the foil of his handler. This is as old in American politics as politics itself"

Karl Rove's quote suggests that in American politics, one of the most reliable ways to reject a prospect is to represent them as the reverse of their handler. This method has actually been used for centuries, and is still used today. By painting the candidate as the foil of their handler, it indicates that the prospect is not their own individual, but is rather a puppet of their handler. This can be harming to the candidate's credibility, as it implies that they are not independent or efficient in making their own decisions. It also suggests that the prospect is not credible, as they are being manipulated by another person. This strategy has been used to fantastic result in American politics, and is still utilized today to challenge prospects.