You kid, but the problem is they actually have a handbook on this.

Reposting from DailyKos's write up of Karl Rove's Handbook from 2012:

Tactic #1: Take the Offensive.

"Throws opponents “off message,” so they cannot get their message across. In addition, a candidate who is on the defensive generally makes a poor impression on voters, who are looking for positive and assertive leadership."

Tactic #2: Attack Your Opponent’s Strengths.

"Rove’s tactic of attacking an opponent’s strengths forces his opponent to back away from the very qualities that makes them an attractive candidate."

Tactic #3: Accuse Your Opponent of What He/She is Going to Accuse You Of.

"‘You say that I don’t love you! I think it is you who does not love me!’"

Tactic #4: Go Negative, Then Cry Foul.

"campaign typically “goes negative” early, using scare tactics or lifting comments out of context. Once the opponent retaliates, the Rove camp calls public attention to their “dirty” campaign tactics."

Tactic #5: The “Big Lie”.

"Ironically, it is the very magnitude of a “big lie” that makes it believable. The response of the voters can be summarized as follows: “Well, there must be some truth in the assertion, or they wouldn’t be able to say it. Where there’ smoke, there’s fire.”"

Tactic #6: Appeal to Moral Values.

"At campaign events, Bush openly discussed his “faith-based” approach to government, declaring that his religious beliefs were at the core of his political decisions."

"Twenty-two percent of voters polled said that the issue of moral issues mattered most in deciding how to vote for president. Of those 22 percent, 80 percent voted for President Bush."

Tactic #7: Sell the (Bush) Persona.

• Bush, the Man of the people

• Bush the Macho Man: "Never Apologize, Stay the Course."

• Bush the Dimwit. "people often tend to “misunderestimate” him, thus, taking him lightly" "As a result, the Bush team was able to claim a victory in the debate for even coming close to the challenger’s performance."

  "this dimwit persona is used to absolve Bush of responsibility when things go wrong."

Tactic #8: Sell an Adolescent Worldview.

"The Rove campaign machine sells an adolescent worldview that resonates with the American public"

• An uncomplicated world
• A world of immediate gratification
• A self-absorbed world

Tactic #9: Exploit the Media.

• Exploiting the capabilities of the media.
  "They understand the visual as well as anybody ever has."

• Denouncing the Media. "One of the most damaging Big Lies perpetuated by conservatives is that the American media are liberal. In reality, right wing ideological media has emerged as a powerful presence in the U.S. However, this charge provides a way to discredit unfavorable news reports."

• Controlling the mainstream media through intimidation. "Early in Bush’s first term, the White House abolished the longstanding tradition of allowing reporter Helen Thomas to ask the first question at press conferences. This was a strong signal to the press corps that critics of the administration would be penalized."

• Imposing limits on “unscripted encounters” with the media. "... Instead, the administration requires that journalists submit their questions in advance and using assigned seating to pinpoint friendly questioners."

• Cultivating a network of influential media commentators and media outlets that supports the (Bush) agenda "Rush Limbaugh ... Fox news ... a survey found that regular viewers of Fox news were more likely to hold certain misconceptions, as compared to consumers of other mainstream media channels"

• Exploiting the capabilities of the media. "television ads are most effective when they focus on themes rather than issues"

  "the “MTV style,” relying on hand-held cameras and quick cuts, sends a message that the candidate is dynamic, innovative and energetic."

• Popular culture can serve as a valuable resource for campaign strategy. "political commercials are so predictable that the audience tunes them out. However, an ad campaign could be designed with an eye on popular media programming"

• Cultivate ideological media.

• Political campaigns must take advantage of the vast potential of the Internet.

Tactic #10: Create Straw Issues.

"The Bush campaigns manufacture minor (but emotionally loaded) issues in order to divert the attention and allegiance of voters."

"Because most people think superficially, few will notice that the point is minor, especially if they are emotionally attached to it."

"Rove raised wedge issues, including same sex marriage, gun control, and abortion"

Tactic #11: Employ Surrogates.

"“The advantage of speaking through a surrogate was that we could say sulfurous things about our opponent and put that on record without our candidate taking personal responsibility for it.”"

Tactic #12: Use Emotional Appeals.

"The (Bush) campaign strategy taps into a wide range of fears and insecurities that in turn controls their attitudes and—more importantly—their voting behavior. As Jim McDermott observes, creating a climate of fear makes people compliant—willing to accept the unacceptable and embrace a strong, authoritarian leader."

Tactic #13: Rely on Expert Testimonials.

"It is not terribly difficult to find “experts” who will support a political point of view. Often, these people have a financial stake in their positions (e.g., working for a tobacco company or as a lobbyist) or hold a like-minded ideological position"

Tactic #14: Rhetorical Devices.

• Misrepresenting a person's position and presenting it in a form that people will reject.
• Take your opponent’s words out of context.
• Three-Card Monte.
• Shift the burden of proof.
• Shift the argument.
• Personal Testimonials.
• Ignore/Downplay the Evidence.
• Substitute (isolated) Fact for Truth.
• Evasive Rhetorical Techniques.

Tactic 15: Use of Language.

• Newspeak, Connotative words, Labels, Euphemisms, Obfuscation, Code Words.