'Gifts' comments erode Romney support

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Presidential nominee Mitt Romney is getting a negative reaction from Republicans less than two weeks after losing the U.S. election to President Barack Obama.

His loss of support within the party accelerated this week after reports of his assertion in a telephone call to major donors that Obama won because of the "gifts" the president gave to minority groups, The Washington Post reported Friday.

That statement was quickly condemned not only by Democrats, but Republicans. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Friday called Romney's comments "divisive," and inappropriate for someone who wanted to be a leader of the entire nation.

The remarks represent Romney's "blame and disregard" for voters, added newly elected Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Colo.

Romney came in for sharp criticism during the campaign when Mother Jones reported on his remarks at a gathering of supporters in Florida at which he said 47 percent of Americans considered themselves "victims."

Romney ran largely on his business experience, without a strong political base gained from years in politics, the Post noted. He had leaned toward a whiter, more rural and more conservative demographic for votes during the campaign, but got less than he had expected.

Regardless of the feelings of others within the GOP, Stuart Stevens, a Romney adviser, said Romney is still "the most popular Republican on the national scene at the moment."

Romney has found support from Obama, who said after the election he agreed with some of Romney's policies and hoped to bring him to the White House for consultation.