Trump picks Romney

>>> we begin just 30 minutes before a city known for high stakes spectacles will witness one more. the scene las vegas . the man donald j. trump . the purpose, an expected presidential endorsement at a news conference that we will carry live. while you never know what might happen at a trump event, it has mitt romney has the hand picked apprentice. the choice comes as a surprise to many who thought newt was the more natural fit with their matching levels of self-esteem and contempt for the president fp for romney , it may bring some publicity. one wonder if the timing isn't perfect for mitt. a candidate who continues to face fire over the assertion that he's quote, not concerned about the very poor. in walks the donald , a self-starved king maker with the golden hair and a golden fortunate that dwarves even romney 's riches.

>> i like being able to fire people who provide services to me.

>> you're fired.

>> as the announcement is made, somewhere in sin city you might find a sulking newt gingrich . he had this to say.

>> i'm just watching in amazement.

>> why is it amazing?

>> because some people have this knack of gathering attention.

>> talk about donald trump , perhaps?

>> he's a force of his own.

>> that's far cry from the candidate who came to kiss the ring two months earlier. leave it to rick santorum . remember him to be the voice of reason. he reminds us that whatever the donald does will be for his benefit. so mr. romney , be careful what you wish for.

>> mitt romney is a small business guy if you think about it. he was a hedge fund . he walked away with some good money for a company that he didn't create. he didn't create.

>> he did create companies?

>> he buy company, close companies, get rid of jobs.

>> let's kick off with our triple panel this thursday afternoon. david corn , washington bureau chief of mother jones magazine . joining us is krystal ball along with dr. james peterson . thank you, sir. david, i have to go to you. yesterday we were being briefed by sources close to trump that he was going to endorse newt. i guess many of us felt that made sense particularly because they could spend some time comparing third wives. now it appears that romney has stolen the endorsement. what happened?

>> these guys just don't have any fidelity, do they? you never know who they will end up in bed with. i'm sorry. i'm sorry. i just couldn't resist. the interesting thing to me is not why trump is doing this. trump is doing this because we're giving him the attention. what's happening with mitt romney , not just having the endorsement, he's appearing with donald trumpb today, was announced a couple of hours ago. he'sgoing to fully accept this. why did he do it the day after. he's opinion worried that newt gingrich may make good on this threat to lead a tea party rebelon against mitt romney . as you know from the polls last spring, donald trump was beating mitt romney in the tea party wing of the republican party . he wants to prevent that from happening. i think donald trump said, you want my endorsement, you better hold hands with me in public.

>> it does seem remarkable that man who said he wasn't concerned about the very poor should today align himself to another multimillionaire. what's going on here?

>> one of biggest, disappointments of the romney candidacy is he is terrified of the far right wing and completely unwilling to stand up to them on anything. donald trump , why are we tauking to him now because he played with the yours truly of running for president. mitt romney is still terrified to cross them. that's why he felt like he had to take the endorsement, had to go with it. the timing could not be worse.

>> you agree that?

>> i do. when you get folks like rush limbaugh critiquing you. mitt romney understands in order to close the deal, he'sgoing to have to pander. i think he makes too many political faux pas . people are now critiquing you about whether or not you have any compassion about the poor or the fact that the middle class is becoming the poor. the next day you're standing side by side with donald trump .

>> what does donald trump bring apart from a big mouth and big money ?

>> absolutely nothing.

>> absolutely nothing?

>> the tea party folks who like donald trump are still not going to come running to mitt romney because he is a massachusetts moderate and he goes with these folks like oil and water . it's not a good fit.

>> now it sounds like krystal is sounding like newt gingrich .

>> sometimes newt is right.

>> don't you ever accuse her.

>> on this count he's right.

>> i think the point is not what mitt gets from donald trump , it's preventing donald trump from giving anything to newt gingrich . newt is almost running on fumes. it shows the gravelational pull on of crazy on gop is so strong that mitt can't get away from it.

>> i don't think he has anything to give to newt gingrich . much higher number of people say this would negatively impact their opinion. it's not like he brings money or allegiance to the table. she's a showman.

>> doesn't this indicate that romney has given up the idea of giving a compassionate conservative because he's looked at how successful newt has been at being a vicious nasty operator. he's getting donald trump who has been utterly contemptuous. his relationship the african-americans is i get on well with the blacks. i'm not sure what is to be gained except being a political maneuver. he doesn't want trump against him. i don't think romney considered the conservative way of thinking about this but he continues to distance himself from that.

>> mitt romney has no conservative street cred . he has to at all opportunities the, at all costs pander to the far right wing. newt gingrich has some cred and has some room to maneuver.

>> david, i wish we could carry on, but we've got do make sure we're there for this magnificent life changing event. thank you, sir for coming in.