The Wall Street Journal's problematic relationship with Karl Rove continues as the paper ran a Rove-penned column that's essentially an advertisement for the importance of political groups like American Crossroads -- which he helped organize and still fundraises for -- in swinging control of the Senate to Republicans this November.

In his September 17 column, Rove warns readers that despite a “terrible” midterm environment for Democrats, a “GOP Senate Majority Is Still in Doubt” due to a Democratic cash advantage. According to Rove, “Republican candidates and groups must step up if they are to substantially reduce that gap.” 

Rove's warning about Republicans' November chances includes a plug for Crossroads' research on ad buys, as well as its conclusions about “swing women voters.” Unlike many of his columns leading up to the 2012 election, Rove offers a disclosure that he works with the group:

And on Wednesday American Crossroads' media buyers produced their latest analysis on how much airtime each side has run or reserved in 14 Senate contests. As of this writing, between Sept. 1 and election day, Democratic Senate candidates, party committees and outside groups have run or placed $109 million in television advertising, while Republican candidates, party committees and groups have $85 million in television time. (Disclosure: I help American Crossroads/Crossroads GPS raise funds on a volunteer basis.)

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There is also evidence there are limits to the efficacy of the Democrats' “war on women” narrative. Recent American Crossroads focus groups among swing women voters found they resent being treated as single-issue abortion voters, considering it condescending. They want candidates from both parties to talk about broader concerns like jobs, the economy, health care, energy, government spending and national security, and they are more than open to the GOP message.

The language about women resenting being treated as “single-issue abortion voters” directly echoes an advertisement Crossroads GPS has been running in Colorado against Democratic Sen. Mark Udall, which features a woman explaining, “We aren't single issue voters...we care about good jobs that support our families.”

He concludes the column with a plea for Republicans to “open their wallets to candidates whom they may have never met,” or else “they should prepare for two more years of Majority Leader Harry Reid.”