>> reporter: but jim messina said ultimately it was the face-to-face contact that sealed the deal. >> we invested in the grass-roots and for a year people said, you know, why are they spending so much money in these states and we were helping local people build a volunteer grass-roots army out there to talk to their friends. >> reporter: now, that kind of contact worked very well for the president with early voters here, scott, and it staked himtor a more than 200,000 vote lead in that category. >> pelley: it certainly worked, dean, thanks very much. all day long yesterday we were talking to voters as they left the polls all across the country. anthony mason is in studio 57. anthony, what did the voters tell us about why they voted the way they did? >> reporter: scott, the president built his reelection victory around the same coalition that put him in the white house four years ago. we saw a pronounced gender gap in our exit polls. governor romney won men by seven percentage points but president obama won women by an even wider margin, 55% to 44%. now, the president's support among w

both jim messina and bono were seen leaving the west wing. what was going on? ey said you just saw the makings of the next great band. >> bono and messina. >> plenty of americans will hit the road for thanksgiving next week. 44 million people are .7% more than last year will travel 50 miles or more which is the fourth consecutive year increase of travel. it is a good sign according to aaa but still not a huge jump. mostly because of high gas prices. >> bill: what did john say yesterday? 24 million. >> on airplanes. >> bill: 24 million flying. anybody staying home for thanksgiving? i don't know. doesn't seem like it. we've gotta dip in one more time. one more day here. to the petraeus soap opera. come on, don't tell me you're not enjoying it. it is pretty messy. it is probably the steamiest sleaziest, silliest sex scandal soap opera that we've seen on national television and that's really saying something. and every day it seems as dianne feinstein yesterday one more layer of the onion gets unpeeled. i mean the latest is the fbi agent that originally launched thi

jim messina, who's the mastermind, jim messina, the president's campaign manager, met with president obama six months ago to unveil a very unique strategy, according to the "wall street journal." the plan was to spend heavily, early, to define mitt romney early in the battleground states. romney would be busy trying to capture the republican nomination and would not be able to have the money to defend himself. the plan was surgical and methodical and it resonated, as an accurate portrait of a corporate raider. romney's 47% remark surfaced months later and solidified this image of romney and showed is us how he viewed the electorate. let's turn to john nichols, washington correspondent for "the nation" magazine, and author of the book "uprising." john, great to have you with us tonight and great work last night in toledo, ohio. that had to be pretty emotional. all those workers knowing that they were going to get a successful conclusion. the obama campaign kept the romney campaign off balance for nearly the entire stretch of this campaign, or am i wrong on that? >> i think it is true,

about 4:00 on election day, jim messina, i think the best campaign manager ever, call me and wants meo do something about election official who wouldn't send provisional ballots to 45 polling places in philadelphia that run out of them. though their polls showed up seven in pennsylvania they still worried about 45 precincts in a city that has 1776. the most important point be they did a great job, but in addition to the job they did, what most of us missed, and i didn't realize myself until i went out and did some african-american churches on sunday, was there was a sense of anger out there in the community against voter suppression. you tell someone -- a lot of african-americans were lukewarm about the president because they didn't see changes in their neighborhood. but then all of a sudden the republicans came along and told them they couldn't vote or they were putting up barriers that they knew were aim at them, bingo, they were angry, they were mad. >> can i push back on that. we polled this. the grio went into the field with a poll with nbc news and tried to look at this idea of

yesterday, president obama's campaign manager, jim messina, did an event for politico.com, in which he explained that the obama campaign was very relieved that the republican party did not pick jon huntsman as their nominee to run against president obama this year. obviously, governor huntsman did run for president this year, for about five minutes. but he got out quickly and cleanly once it became clear that the republican party this year was not going to pick a guy who tweeted things like this. "to be clear, i believe in evolution and trust scientists on global warming. call me crazy." yeah, that was not going to work for the republican party this year. and so jon huntsman got out, early. and while the obama campaign must have been relieved when he exited the race, the fact that he exited the race completely, without having to go through the worst of the nonsense from the republican primary, and the fact that he got out in a way that largely kept him from being associated with the ultimately losing and now politically toxic mitt romney campaign, all of that means that jon huntsman is

with jim messina and stagg about why they don't care about national numbers. the first thing if you look at the deep south, and appalachia, places where there's a lot of resistance to the president, he's polling below -- he's polling 25%, 30%, the -- those really, really red states, in the blue states, the president like where he's far ahead he's ahead by 10 or 12 points and in the red states by 30 or 40 points. chris: the red states, it's like a ballooning up of the national number. but it doesn't really hurt him electorally. >> that's the point. the national polling organizations like gallup, especially, which had romney ahead by five or circumstances points before they had -- six points before they had to stop polling because of under water in new jersey, they poll nationally and so the southern number is what makes the national number look more favorable to romney. >> and in battleground states, as we all look at this -- the seven to nine battleground states, that are going to be so important, unemployment rate is lower in a lot of them. not florida. but i

before he left chicago, the president stopped by campaign headquarters to thank campaign manager jim messina and other staffers with hugs. e might want to stock up on those hugs. the american people have voted for the sameme divided governme and potential grid lock we've had for two years. today, republicans and conservatives were overwrought, wringing their hands, trying to figure out what went on. >> i went to bed thinking, we're outnumbered, thinking we've lost the country. >> i think republicans have done a pathetic job of reaching out to people of color. >> if mitt romney cannot win in this economy, then the tipping point has been reached. >> reporter: on the president's to do list, economic growth and jobs. immigration reform, and the top priority, those tax cuts set to expire come midnight new year's eve. but whatever difficulties may lie ahead, the president seized his moment early this morning, staking his claim in history with a nod of the lofty rhetoric of his convention speech eight years ago and his hopes for what might be. >> i believe we can seize this future together, because

you know, they were -- the people you mentioned before, david plouffe, jim messina and jim axelrod --articularly messina and plouffe, i wrote about this, they saw this as a contest between economics and demographics. the economics were going to be a headwind for president obama and the only way to win was focus like a laser beam on four groups. the rest of the campaign was just mood music for them. they were looking at african-americans, hispanics, college educated white women and young voters in nine states. that was -- they had a year and a half before they had to engage with romney. a year and a half and a $1 billion to go out into those states and figure out not just in a broad way these were the groups they had to do well with but how do you move those people? >> how do you find out how to do it? >> some of the -- chuck said there was no issue -- there's a little exception. they were able to talk to a lot of people in those groups, find out what issues matter to them. the thing is the president did along the way. whether it was the dream act move in the spring, the gay marriage m

jim messina says obama for america intends to keep supporters engaged in the political process usingbuilt for obama's reelection effort to advocate for policy goals through e-mail updates, rallies and social media. one month after the election, democrats are already working on 2014 and they are looking to use the republicans own weapon against them. that would be big money. politico reported that nancy post, chuck schumer and top aids spoke at a secret meeting of major democratic donors and officials from liberal outside groups. the groups are courting in an effort to pass the legislative agenda and plan to help democrats keep the senate and take back the house in 2014. i'm joined tonight by political analyst richard wolffe, vice president of msnbc.com. what do you make of this? is this talk or is this really organized effort to make a difference in the midterms, to get really prepared for the midterms. >> it is an organized effort. they have learned their lessons. when they let this stuff die. the critical question on whether it will make a difference is what they ask. it's one thin

. >> now, krystal, when you look at the fact that the campaign manager for the manager, jim messina, at a breakfast this morning, he said that the white house feared running against huntsman. take a look. >> we were honest about our concerns about huntsman. you know, i think huntsman would have been a very tough general election candidate. it's someone who helped manage his confirmation for chinese ambassador, i can tell you, you know, he's a good guy. we looked at his profile in the general election and thought he would have been difficult. >> so, whereas you're seeing some of the o'reilly, limbaugh types still saying, let's go further right, you're hearing their opposition, the president's campaign manager saying, we were more afraid of the moderate guy. doesn't that tell them something or are they not listening? >> jon huntsman was governor of utah, perhaps the most conservative state in the country. he's no liberal but he has sense and reason and would have been a more appealing candidate than mitt romney. i still think the president would have won. to this point, you know, the p

at one point during this politico playbook breakfast jim messina was talking about advice he had gotten in an adviser he said which adviser eric schmidt the head of google. he went and talked to steven spielberg out in california. you have the irony here of the democratic campaign being the efficient metric corporate consultant type campaign listening to advice from business. >> it's interesting. in that case obama was the ceo. they did another thing, they took a page from the advertising brand loyalty program, basically they stayed very focused on basically their buyers from the previous election, the voters that voted for obama and tracked them over the next four years as far as how their tastes were changing, wrb they were going, what was happening. the combination of using -- not just being in social media but using social media plus stand with their brand loyal consumers, brand loyalty program, that combination was effective. >> i talked to a guy that runs a very large global advertising firm last week. he said, you know, the most surprising thing to me is, that what the obama camp

david axelrod, jim messina or whoever taped that 47 video. >> i think it goes to the video. >> i do too. >> the gaffe is when you accidentally say the truth. >> thank you for joining me tonight. >> thanks, lawrence. >> coming up, rush lam because admitted to his radio audience that he told them a big lie. tweet your guesses about what rush admits he was lying about. and the answer will be in tonight's rewrite. and cecile richards joins me with the record wins for women last night and jonathan cape hard and ana marie cox are here. i'm going to see if i can get them to go off the cliff. he. [ male announcer ] take dayquil... [ ding! ] ...and spend time on the slopes. take alka-seltzer plus cold & cough... [ buzz! ] ...and spend time on the chair. for non-drowsy 6-symptom cold & flu relief. take dayquil. use nyquil... [ ding! ] ...and get longer nighttime cough relief. use alka-seltzer plus night cold & flu... [ coughs ] [ buzz! ] [ screams ] ...and you could find yourself... honey? ...on the couch. nyquil. 50% longer cough relief. >>> the results are in and we now have the winners and the

the obama campaign, this is jim messina.out taking the campaign and sort of using it as a model for how they run the administration going forward. >> people just spent five years winning two presidential elections together. they're now not going to walk away and not help him you know, become the change they want to see. >> you know, this obviously i think, is a great idea. not just grassroots. go in, frame every issue the way you frame mitt romney then you'll have success with the issues that you're trying to legislate. >> you know, they're turning a technology-based situation -- they're using a technology-based analogy for what should be the mode of governance in which you articulate your policy in a compelling way and you make sure everyone gets it and everyone knows what's going on. so yeah, that's called leadership last time i looked. and building consensus or at least building networks of agreement to allow you to govern. so in that sense i think it's a little bit -- not quite dising uousut but qstionable. snking it inn

are you surprised by hearing this now by what jim messina said? >> i wish he'd said it last year.t might have helped huntsman some then. look, i think huntsman is a principled leader, something that's very thoughtful. you know, he also -- he had a hard time distinguishing himself from the pack, but i think we are going to see a very good slew of candidates for the republican party in four years. >> l.z.? >> you know, you said it best. i've been a huge huntsman supporter since he announced his candidacy. i know for a fact that people within the obama administration as well as the campaign were legitimately fearful of huntsman early on. the fact that jon huntsman wasn't able to get a word in edgewise in talking about foreign policy though he was the only primary candidate that had any foreign policy experience told you how misguided the republican party was. now they're able to look back and hopefully have jon huntsman or someone like him be part of the conversation four years from now because i do like jon huntsman a lot. >> thank you both for joining me. we'll see what happens. le

there was a key fact that david axelrod and david plouffe and jim messina reiterated at the last campaignrence call this afternoon, which was that barack obama won 56% of the vote amongst voters who call themselves moderates. not independents, undecideds, but moderates, and they said again and again, this is based in suburban communities throughout the country, and they think that was the turning point for them. now, those people probably are not a lot of takers and moochers. and so this prescription that ann coulter has, no surprise is wrong, but the republican party has some very difficult questions to answer in the next few years and i think you and i will -- and anna marie and jared will be there to help them. >> although they won't listen. ab na m speaker boehner says she want a balanced approach to easing the debt so long as it does not involve raising taxes on the top earners. doesn't he know only 35% support no new taxes. >> also the statistic they should be looking at from the exit polls was the 81% who said mitt romney didn't identify with the problems of people like them. peopl

with jim messina and the whole crew and re-election team. i think republicans and conservatives should figure out what they stand for. >> chris: wait. we'll talk about republicans -- >> i got that. but my answer is i think the president is going to go full steam ahead with his agenda. which is a socially progressive and very liberal agenda. i think we heard talk of compromise before, senator, of healthcare, in the end it was my way or highway. he got it way he wanted it with very little support. i think you see it again. >> he did extend the bush tax cuts for a year. some compromise. >> he had to do that. even democrats urged him to do that. this time now with a second term without check he doubles down on the things he wants to do. i think he rams through an amnesty, immigration reform or whatever you call it. he goes further toward carbon tax. toward all sorts of other environmental regulations waiting. there is a huge regulatory frame wok about to be implemented. they have been holding up on it. this second term will be regulation hen. >>

now that the election is over, the question is what will happen with jim messina.explains what he thinks will happen next. >> people just spent five years winning two presidential elections together. they're now not going to walk away and not help them become the change they want to see. >> so is it possible that an obama organization and obama for america will remain in chicago as an entity? >> i think anything is possible. >> anything is possible. joining me, karen finney, and michael shearer, white house correspondent for "time" magazine. i very much like the term cellular shadow. i want to ask you, great reporting on the obama campaign's digital game, but whenever i see this after an election i wonder how much of it is kind of whiz bang tech hype. democrats won a senate race in north dakota they shouldn't have won and it was not the obama campaign's ground game. how big an effect too do you think it had in the end. >> $600 million was raised on line and 504 came through digital operations. that is like twice what george w. bush was spending in the general elect

. >> he got a big hug from his campaign manager jim messina today when he went into the campaign officehere in chicago. then we are told aboard air force one the bylights, the crew decided to present the president with a sheet case basically con grated late him on his victory. jay carney said at one point he looked around is anybody flying this plane. they were flying the plane. everybody was safe. the president back at the white house. >> shepard: what are republicans saying about working with the president trying to break this gridlock? >> the republicans are skeptical because they say that the president noted last night is he going to call mitt romney and invite him into the white house for a meeting to talk about how they can work together. the republicans say look he did the same thing with john mccain as president elect in 2008. both parties went to their separate corners in the end and didn't get a lot done together. republic strategists are saying if the president is serious about this second term maybe they can get business done. take a listen. >> i was interested in his remark

. >> brown: i think it was just this week, howie, the obama campaign manager -- former now, jim messina, he was talking about this very issue, about keeping supporters, those millions that they got, engaged. but do they know how the do that? is this like everybody else trying to figure out how to keep it going? >> this is the second opportunity. because after the election of 2008 when president obama had built this digital machine given the technology at the time it kind of atrophied. they were not able to keep it up. i think here's there's a concerted effort, we have the obama for america, we used it in the campaign successfully, let's continue to recruit and activate this volunteer army through digital means, facebook, twitter, youtube, as you were saying. but i don't know if they can maintain the level of enthusiasm once the election has passed. >> brown: what about, lauren, the other side? the republicans -- you mentioned the heritage foundation coming in on something like this, that's a think tank. but the republican party has a bigger problem. right? >> it has a very big problem,

. >>> coming up next, what did jim messina know and when did he know it? that he was within a handful of votes on predicting president obama's final vote count. while david plouffe had an electoral prediction on the nose. but m arepublicans didn't just e the race last week, many seemed to lose their bearings, predicting a 300-vote electoral landside. it excited the republican base and then left many dazed and confused. so now what happens now that the bubble has been burst by reality-based math. we'll take a look ahead after the break. [ man ] ring ring... progresso this reduced sodium soup says it may help lower cholesterol, how does it work? you just have to eat it as part of your heart healthy diet. step 1. eat the soup. all those veggies and beans, that's what may help lower your cholesterol and -- well that's easy [ male announcer ] progresso. you gotta taste this soup. now's a good time to think about your options. are you looking for a plan that really meets your needs? and your budget? as you probably know, medicare only covers about 80% of your pa