Roger Ailes: Karl Rove 'Was Wrong' And 'Our Guys Were Right' On Election Call

Fox News CEO Roger Ailes recounted his reaction to the notorious on-air dispute between Karl Rove and the network's "decision desk" during an interview with TVNewser.

Rove's refusal to accept that President Obama had won Ohio, and the election, became one of the unforgettable moments of the night's coverage. Anchor Megyn Kelly had to bring the decision desk team on air to refute Rove's protestations. It all made for excellent TV, but it also drew buckets of scorn, and raised questions about Rove's dual role as both pundit and Super PAC mastermind. Fox News later said the whole episode proved Rove's value to the network.

Ailes told TVNewser that he had the same basic reaction as most other people.

"I thought, 'What the? What is this?'" he said.

Ailes said he then got on the phone and told the network to work it out on air. "Rove was wrong," he said. "He backed down. Our guys were right."

Ailes did not mention whether, as has been reported, he was far from pleased at Rove's behavior.