Intel Flap Makes Bush Adviser Rove A Target of Criticism from Democrats.

Byline: Jay Root

Jul. 2--The politically charged investigations that once filled committee rooms in Washington have all but vanished since George W. Bush became president.

But some Democrats are itching to get the show back on the road -- albeit with Republicans playing the leading roles -- and one potential star is Karl Rove, once called the "prime minister of Texas" because of his deep and powerful connections in the state.

Rove, now Bush's senior adviser and strategist, recently created controversy after personal financial disclosures showed that he owned an estimated $100,000 in Intel stock when the computer chip maker was seeking White House approval of a merger.

His powerful presence in virtually every major policy decision -- from energy reform to stem-cell research to tax cuts -- has also made him a lightning rod for the opposition.

Rove strongly denies any conflict of interest and has since sold all of his individual stock…