President Bush took a firm stance towards the right, moving away from bipartisan efforts. His shift in strategy was heavily influenced by his adviser, Karl Rove, who believed that the political landscape had become so divided that the Republican Party could secure victories by energizing its core supporters instead of appealing to independent voters.
This approach marked a significant change in political strategy, prioritizing base mobilization over broader coalition-building, which ultimately contributed to increasing polarization within the electorate.