What NOW?!: Obama’s inspirational commencement address

>>> you're from joplin . so you will remember, you will know, just how many people there are who see life differently. you're from joplin . so you'll always know that it's always possible for a community to come together when it matters most. yes, you will encounter obstacles along the way, but you're from joplin . and you're from america. and no matter how tough times get, you'll always be tougher.

>> welcome back. time for "what now?" president obama addressing high school seniors of joplin missouri one near to the day after a giant tornado kill more than 160 people. joan, we frequently talk about the president and two capacities, one is as commander in chief on the world stage in the shadows of nato and the g-8, or as a campaigner. but i thought that was a remarkable speech, not only because of the emotional pitch of it but it's a reminder that of course he's the president of the united states and his domestic concerns are serious.

>> right. and he's also the consoler in chief and he's very good at that, very good showing up and making people feel comforted and heard and taken care of and it was an important milestone for them.

>> eric, we talk about -- i mean beer summit as side, having someone aside in the oval office who is empathetic and in those moments you're reminded of the strength of obama and the brat fa pratt falls of romney .

>> he's cool in his poise in his presence. even the people who hate him recognize that he's formidable in his ability to connect with people and to keep calm in the face of disaster. and you can't fake that. and it comes across over and over again and we'll see more of it as the campaign progresses.

>> we didn't get to play the ad, this is karl rove 's brainchild, it's not any kind of personal attacks it's all about the president's economic record because they understand, through poll testing and focus groups , people still like the president. he has a warm spot in their hearts for him.

>> the guy who did the ad did the willie horton ad . look at din treatments they are bringing to this. when people see the ad, they'll see. it's a soft sell of the anxiety people are feeling in the country and through all of their focus grouping people kept saying, i like this president. i believed him, i wanted to believe him the messages that he used i thought were going to work. i don't think heat a bad person. you don't -- politics is so polarizing you don't hear that a lot about somebody still might vote against anyway. romney campaign, they have to be very delicate in the way they go after the president. you hear romney say i think he's a good person i don't think he's done a good job. a $25 million ad buy isn't main or negative it's reflective of the strengths the president has with the american people who still might not reeelect him.

>> the primary in texas a tale of two governors, rick perry and sarah palin . perry's in a new ad for lieutenant governor david due duhe duherst. a face-off between sarah palin and rick perry . does america want this? i don't know. i want to talk about it.

>> we like it, right? i mean, you obviously like it.

>> i just want -- rick perry the picture of him in the running gear with the neon green laces. do we have it?

>> we haven't seen him since he dropped out of the race in south carolina . so this is a bit of reemergence on the stage and it will be very interesting to see how that fight goes down.

>> and also, sarah palin has been sort of giving endorsements to a few select races and it's interesting to see that she's having an effect and what degree should be a kingmaker come november. thanks it eric, patricia, joan, carol. see you back here tomorrow, noon. joined by john heilemann, patricia murphy, jakes lipton. until follow us on twitter. " andrea mitchell reports" is next. good