Panel: Romney’s rationale

>>> what the president's campaign did was focus on certain members of his base coalition, give them extraordinary financial gifts from the government and then work very aggressively to turn them out to vote."

>>> the chicken in every pot strategy, or at least in that. that was former governor mitt romney during a conference call with top donors. portions of that call were posted online. romney campaign tells nbc news, governor romney was simply elaborating about what david axelrod said.

>> joining me, john ralston of ralston reports. he got up early. i know he doesn't like doing that out there. but i appreciate it. john, let me start with you, got got a whole bunch of republican governors who responded to romney 's comments. and boy, did they seem to pour cold water on romney 's chances.

>> it's amazing. what better place to come, the land of second chances, for re-election, than these republican governors. bobby jindal saying you can't keep dividing the american people . essentially saying we can't be the dumb party anymore. i'm surprised they still call themselves the republican governors association . they're changing their branding this week in vegas.

>> michael steele , blame the voters?

>> it's an odd, stupid, silly thing to say. it goes to the frustration the republicans had about how the campaign was executed. not just on the romney level. but the national strategy by the rnc. the losses in the senate which were, you know, amazing. given where we were, six, eight, ten months ago. the reality is, i said it before, i'll say it again, party, get your head out of your you know what, understand that america has changed. change with it. you don't have to change your realities, but adapt to them. people want to hear you speak to your concerns.

>> in an odd way, romney has provided a way for republicans that want to be 2016 players, right? bobby jindal took that softball pip and hit it out of the park and said that's not me.

>> absolutely, bobby jindal has been to iowa , and other governors are looking at it as well. it does give them opportunity. i think they need more time few more weeks . they need a few more months. it's always easy to hate on the loser right now.

>> look, on one hand i understand when you lose a race, you can't believe that you were the problem and your message is off. the first big post election interview with mitt romney will be fascinating, isn't it?

>> yeah, it will be. he sounded very statesman like when he gave his concession speech. then to come out and essentially dig up the 47% video and attach these racialized identities to these people. i thought it was very offensive. it was inappropriate. certainly not helpful to his party. he sounds like a man who doesn't really have a future in politics. also sounds like a map who doesn't understand americans. doesn't understand you can't win iowa and new hampshire.

>> that's what is odd about it. it doesn't explain losing iowa and new hampshire. how sober is this rga meeting? you've been hanging out there. how sober is it out there?

>> well, i think it's very sober. this is just remarkable to see. suddenly they discovered demography does have something to do with winning elections. as if realizing this latino population, oh suddenly, look, we better start saying things we haven't said.

>> i think they thought hispanics only lived in california and not to worry about it. stick around. we're going to