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the national association for the advancement of colored people. the naacp was founded in 1909 and is the nation's largest and oldest civil rights organization. african americans are one of president obama's most loyal voting blocks. he won 95% of the african- american vote in 2008. john mccain who ran against barack obama in 2008, won 4% of the african-american vote. so, at wednesday's event mr. romney was squarely in enemy territory. but romney gave no ground. in fact, at times he seemed to be baiting the audience. >> if our goal is jobs, we have to stop spending over a trillion dollars more than we take in every year. and so -- and so to do that i'm going toll eliminate every non-

essential expensive program i can find. that includes obama care. and i'm going to work to reform and save -- >> despite the boos, some of romney's lines were met with applause, namely, those dealing with jobs and the middle class. >> and i don't just mean for those who are middle class now. i also mean for those who have waited so long for their chance to join the middle class. >> also, when romney exited the hall, at least half the up and applauded. >> question, how much did mitt romney gain, or lose from his speech to the naacp? pat buchanan. >> it's win-win, john. there's no way he could lose anything when barack obama got the black vote 24 to 1 the last time out. so you can only gain. it shows a bit of courage going in there and speaking to that group. he spoke his message, the message he wanted to deliver. he mentioned obama care. the very boos he got that will

strengthen mitt romney with the conservatives. at the same time, the fact he went down there and said, look, you're part of the constituency is i'm going to be president of you as well. i think that helps him with moderate republicans so it's win all the way. i think the naacp only hurt itself by this clip they took out of them booing him. the truth is, he got a standing ovation at the end. >> what about that eleanor? >> i think romney gets street creds for going. by using the term obama care he must have known that that would be seen as a sign of disrespect sew did get the bays and he did get a standing ovation. i think they treated him poo lately. that doesn't mean they are going to vote for him but he gets what he wanted out of this event. he can showcase the bays to his base, and he looks brave for going. i had some democrats what were so envious of what he did, they're suggesting that president obama address the mormon tabernacle choir now. >> first, i think it's -- what

eleanor said was close to this conspiracy theory that got put out last week that romney went in, used the word obama care to upset the crowd swee get booed. i don't think -- so he would get booed. i think it's ridiculous so say he was intentionally getting booed. >> really. >> the dccc, the democratic congressional campaign committee is sending out i heart obama care stickers. i found 5 mentions on their website. it's not a provocative term. it's not a slur. it certainly i would think take a lot more evidence to argue that he meant to get booed. he's not playing primarily to get the black vote. if he gets more than the 4% mccain, did what you're doing in these, going to the suburban places, northern virginia, suburban ohio trying to get the white centrist moderate.

>> was he smart to have accepted the naacp invitation? >> yes, because -- >> did romney not want those boos and know that he was going to get them and deliberately sought them? >> ly with, if he didn't want the boose did he go on neil cavuto's show and the negative he's smart enough to know what kind of reaction he was going to get and how well it would play with his base. he knows he is not going to win any african-american votes of any substantial nature by attending the event, but, like pat said, he scores points by showing up. he shows that he appeals to moderates. this was the speech, john, that was delivered to the people who weren't in the room. >> you think that any black vot appeared at the naacp? >> no, that wasn't the point to

win black votes. >> still answer my question. did he get any black votes out of it, national votes? >> how do i say no in a way you'll understand. >> you think no. >> that's not the point. >> do you think he lost any potential black votes because he appeared in the naacp? >> no. again -- >> direct war. >> as far as the black vote, but he wasn't expecting -- >> i think he thought he was going to get black votes for appearing there. >> how many? >> he picked up a few. >> give me a number. >> president obama did not attend the naacp convention in houston. the convention got a pre- recorded video message from president obama. 2009 was the last year that mr. obama attended the conclave. the support from black voters for obama has been overwhelming in past years, but some blacks are now saying that he is taking the black vote for granted, and that is a mistake. joe biden, by the way, picked

up the slack and did address the group, saying to nistration has boosted education, clean energy, women's rights, scientific research, and affordable healthcare. as a result, 8 million african americans will get coverage. so, on balance, does despite joe biden's statements and his rhetoric, did it do duty and cancel out any obama no-show criticism? i ask you. do you understand all that? >> i do. and i'll tell you why he didn't go. barack obama cannot do better with the african-american vote than he's done with 95%. secondly, if you go there and you get a cheering rallying black audience, it's like mitt romney going before the tea party right now. you just don't do it. i disagree with clarence here. i think that barack obama is not going to get 95%. i think mitt can take it down to maybe 92 or 90. secondly, the turnout was extraordinary. 13% of the turnout. there's a little bit of feeling that they've been let down. if that goes down to 12%, then

you've got the philadelphia suburbs, the virginia suburbs. >> this is interesting. obama had gone -- had obama gone to the naacp -- >> i think it's fine. >> you do? >> he can afford to skip this event. >> it was a smear. >> they know he's on their side and romney went there and said i'm going to appeal obama care, and you're not going to get any more free stuff from the government. that is like chalk on a blackboard to people who rely on government. then watch joe biden. you didn't play any of his speech. it was terrific. he has a comfort level with this audience and a lot of audiences, and you see immediately why he is on the ticket. he has a chilly boss, and he warms him up. he was terrific, and this crowd knows they have friends in the white house. it's a plus-plus for obama, and romney did a good job, too. >> okay. in an interview this week president obama was asked, quote, what was your biterm. this was his answer.

>> the mistake of my first term, couple of years, was thinking that this job was just about getting the policy right. and that's important. but, you know, the nature of this office is also to tell a story to the american people that gives them a sense of unity and purpose and optimism, especially during tough times. >> question. was this a hot sauce answer by president obama or was this a clever way of avoiding saying anything negative about the policies of his first term? you get the question? >> yes. president obama is a guy who in his college interview is asked what's your wiggest flaw and he says, my biggest flaw is not communicating enough to people around me how awesome i am. that's basically what obama said. [ laughter ]

>> that's what he said. and rate after the 2010 election we see obama give the same answer. >> politicians do tend to think they haven't told the story and i think this president is right. just lack at the affordable care act. provision by provision gets into sick, 70, 80% of the public. they just don't like the overall plan. he never -- if you are going to change our government, to the extent that that act does and will, you need to explain every step along the way to the american people. if you fail to do that -- >> i think that's right. >> pat's agreeing with me. >> this is where the main problem with his affordable care act. they just let it go. they passed it. and republicans hammered it and hammered it until now it's a big negative. i didn't sell the program i love and i think it's a fail there. >> let him hear from clarence. >> let clarence hear from me.

>> okay, okay. >> obama is too -- i won't use the word "sneaky" but the way he avoided getting into the content of his first term with regard to issues and all of the problems created by obama care. >> what's your interpretation? >> his biggest failure was that i didn't inspire the people and that's part of this job. does he think we're really going to follow that? >> that's your spin. eleanor is right, once you pass a bill this large, this sweeping, and do it primarily with a one-party vote, then you've got to go out and sell it. that's what he didn't do. he just said, well, this policy is wonderful enough, it will sell itself. no, no policy sells itself. daniel patrick moynahan said years ago you've got to have crossover votes. the fact is now people see provision by provision they like it. the only part they didn't like was the mandate, the idea of paying for it, in other words.

well, that's natural. that's anticipated by the administration. >> that sinks the whole boat. >> it's not going to sink the whole boat, john. as people become more familiar with it, what it offers, it is going to become more popular. >> apparently he doesn't want to bring that up. >> he brought it up. >> and i commend him on it. i commend him on both fronts. >> wonderful. >> it's becoming a little obvious, andy better start suppressing some of what he really is intending to do by op outlook and saying, i failed to inspire people. when we come back, what will presidential candidate ♪

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the lexus ct hybrid. romney's choice for running mate. >> i think we should thank him for his service but tell the president, you had your chance, it's not working, it's time for a new president. >> republican tim pawlenty, the minnesota governor until december 2010, is on the attack. he's become a strong surrogate for the romney campaign after trying to win the presidential nomination himself, notably in the gop primary last year, 2011. here's the special credentials mr. pawlenty brings to the table. one, he's just enfat cal. both romney and pawlenty were

republican gophers of so-called blue states, hostile gop territory during the same time period. rom thee governed massachusetts for one term. pawlenty, three terms. two, he's religious. pawlenty is an evangelical christian, a possible draw for evangelicals not drawn to romney's mormon faith. three, he's a solid political ally. as governors, pawlenty and romney shared ideas, also political spouses ann romney and mary pawlenty are good friends. four, he's every man. pawlenty brings to the table what may not be mitt romney's strongest suit. namely, every man appeal. pawlenty grew up in a meat packing town where pawlenty's father was a truckdriver. few my mom died when i was in 10th grade, and my dad got laid off not too long after that.

and in that chapter of my hometown when those big meat packing plants shut down, i saw the face of unemployment, i saw it as a real young age up close and real personal. >> besides tim and louisiana governor bobby jindal. >> question, will pawlenty join romney on the presidential ticket in november? and is there any -- is there another big player on the vice presidential stage? we'll take those questions in order. clarence page. i think you know you're not a possible vice presidential choice. >> not on this list? no, i don't. you've got the list. oh, you're feeding me that one, okay. >> i'm not feeding it to you. >> well, you mean because the drudge report headlined that. >> no, not because of drudge,

because that she's out there and she's worthy of that consideration. >> i would not name her. she is being talked about but she always. a lot of people like her for a lot of nice reasons but politically she's not conservative enough, john, for this year, and she also, underclothes examination, reminds people of bush's foreign policy, of unpopular wars, a lot of baggage. >> what did she do for bush? >> well, she was secretary of state, she was -- >> bush senior? >> well, under -- >> she worked with bush senior, too, on the national security council but she became a star in the second bush administration as secretary of state. and i must say sarah palin kind of blessed her. condoleezza rice is pro choice, but that gives her a pass with conservative. i don't think in the end romney will choose her. what i know of romney, certainly not firsthand, is he likes to play it safe, and i

think tim pawlenty or john portman would be the safe picks and the first rule of vice presidential picking is do no harm. but condoleezza rice would add a lot of excitement. >> if you look at polls for the last year, obama's unpopularity, he's doing better in the head-to-head polls against republicans because of their flaws but whenever he was running as generic republican he was losing. but tim pawlenty is probably second place. >> what about this component of condoleezza rice? first of all, her name means "with sweetness." it's an italian combination of words. she's 51% african, 40% european, 9% native american, or asian descent. now, does that do anything with regard to the contribution she could make politically

speaking? >> no. >> well -- >> to the campaign of mitt romney for president. condoleezza rice, female, et cetera. >> i know she's a female. if you choose her, will you repress the republican base. >> why? >> they will be appear pulled and rise up against romney. secondly, her whole connection is with george w. bush, whose foreign policy and war in iraq are considered a disaster. they cost the republican party both houses in 2006, and the presidency in 2008. why would you do it? what exactly does she bring some what state does she bring? >> because of the cabinet post that she held, the fact that she worked for sandy berger, colin powell, bob zoellick. >> she didn't work for sandy berger, did she? >> she was part of sandy berger's generation. >> i don't think she's that old. >> i'm not an authority on

herbicide okay grief. she worked at the hoover institution. the woman is a brilliant woman. >> when we were with nixon in '68, there was a point where he was way down. he was tied with humphrey, and you take the safe pick. >> is it safe to say that everybody on this panel is poo- pooing, except me, a possible candidacy? >> yes. >> as a running mate? >> not as a rung mate. she's phot got many great qualifications but not for this ticket. >> not for this particular. >> poo-pooing. >> okay who will be romney's vice presidential running mate? >> i would say pawlenty or portman. it's going to be about even and it will help him in ohio, and if pawlenty can deliver min so tea's a pretty good pick. >> i agree with that, and we're going to know in a couple of weeks because they are going to announce before it the convention. >> come on, give me your pick.

>> pawlenty or portman. >> jindal. i think bobby jindal is really the complete package. >> why, why, why? >> why? because he's a conservative with a great record of two terms as governor of louisiana. >> pawlenty is a conservative. >> pawlenty has more mix of a record as a governor between tax hikes and -- >> you said that with experience. also, the two of them were friends. they were contemporaneously gophers. >> i'd love to see romney pick either pawlenty or jindal, but he will probably pick portman. around with him. we'll be

predictions, pat. >> john, i think that before the november election we're going to have maybe not a war with iran, but i believe some kind of collision and some kind of confrontation. i don't think the israelis are going to attack but there's a lot of forces moving into the gulf. the sanctions i think are hurting very badly, and i believe if you did have this collision, or do have this collision, i think it will by and large benefit barack obama. >> eleanor. >> the obama campaign is really drawing blood on romney with the attacks on bane and romney's shifting stories of when he left bane, the company which he founded. the drum beat for him to release his tax returns will continue.

i do not see how he can get away with releasing only one year, 20 10, an estimate of 2011, saying he had not yet completed that return, when traditionally presidential candidates release a dozen years of tax returns. so romney is in trouble. >> tim. >> president obama despite all his talk about being outraised and outspend is going to continue to raise more and spend more from his campaign than romney's campaign, and the democratic national committee will spend more this election than the republican national committee. i can't predict what will happen with some of the undisclosed outside money but as far as the campaign obama will win the spending race in the 2012 election. >> i think the next assault is going to be the obama administration over welfare reform and the waivers that hhs, health and human services,

has given. a core issue with conservatives. you immediate to work for your benefits. and by loosening up some of these work requirements in this economy, there are republicans in both houses who want to take a closer look at this now, and i think we are going to see a big fight result. >> what do you mean, a big fight? >> the kind of hearings, investigations, a lot of rhetoric in regard to the obama administration being soft on people. well, they won't use the word "freeloaders," but that will be the implication. >> we're all out of time. bye-bye!