DENVER (AP) – Karl Rove says Republicans can win in 2012 by focusing on issues like the economy, jobs, health care, deficit spending, and what he says is the failure of federal stimulus spending.

GOP strategist Rove said Republicans can win by consolidating their base of voters, not by compromising their principles.

Rove spoke Wednesday in Denver at a fundraising lunch for the Colorado GOP. The party said 106 people paid between $65 and $200 to attend.

Rove’s American Crossroads advocacy group is among the nation’s top-spending political interest groups, and is projected to spend more than candidates and parties themselves in some races next year.

Rove is credited for engineering successful presidential campaigns for George W. Bush.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)