Karl Rove Joins Twitter

By Matthew Moore, The Telegraph

The former White House deputy chief of staff joined the popular micro-blogging website two days ago and has already attracted more than 1,700 followers – other Twitter users who choose to receive his updates.

Unlike other celebrities on Twitter like Barack Obama and Britney Spears, who delegate their posts to aides, Mr Rove appears to be taking a hands-on approach to the site, which allows users to post 140-character updates on what they are doing.

In one Tweet he confesses that he is "no new media ninja" but is being shown the ropes by an assistant, adding: "I like it so far!"

Most of his posts detail his television appearances, speaking engagements and articles, but he has also exchanged good-natured messages with other Twitter users.

In one message he revealed a glimpse of his former boss George W Bush's concern for his legacy, writing: "I used to get steamed up over some editorial and the President would say, 'History will get it right and we'll both be dead!'"

At least two impostors have set up Twitter accounts under his name, so Mr Rove posted a message on his official website to confirm that he was the real thing.

Mr Rove stepped down from the White House in 2007 and has since worked as a political commentator for Newsweek, the Wall Street Journal and Fox News.

The strategist, who is reviled by many Democrats because for masterminding Mr Bush's 2000 and 2004 election triumphs, has a long way to go before he matches the Twitter popularity of the president-elect. Mr Obama currently has 165,414 followers.

Comedian Stephen Fry, television presenter Jonathan Ross and basketball player Shaquille O'Neil are among the site's celebrity users.