WASHINGTON – Karl Rove, President Bush’s top political strategist, yesterday pronounced conservatism the “dominant political creed in America” and coached fellow conservatives on how to support his boss.

“The next time one of your smarty-pants liberal friends says to you, ‘Well, he didn’t have a mandate,’ you tell him of this delicious fact: This president got a higher percentage of the vote than any Democratic candidate for president since 1964,” Mr. Rove said.

In 2004, Bush was re-elected with about 51% of the vote. In 1976, Jimmy Carter received just over 50%, and in the two times Bill Clinton was elected, he received under 50% of the vote; Independent Ross Perot was on the ballot both times.

Mr. Bush is the first president since Franklin Roosevelt to be re-elected while his party gained seats in the House and Senate, Mr. Rove continued. But he also cautioned his conservative supporters that they must not become complacent with the 2004 victory.

“Republicans cannot grow tired or timid,” he said.

Mr. Rove told a gathering at the Conservative Political Action Conference that Mr. Bush is committed to the members’ ideas of fostering morality and values, including protecting the culture of life for every human person – a goal that generated applause from the crowd at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.

“Conservatism is the dominant political creed in America,” Mr. Rove said, adding that more needed to be done.