“In a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, it’s the message that appears to be the problem, not the messengers who are delivering it,” the Washington Post writes. “A majority of Americans (53 percent) say the Republicans’ problem is that they are overly conservative and unconcerned ‘with the welfare of the people, particularly those in the lower and middle income levels.’ By contrast, 38 percent say the bigger issue is that  Republicans ‘need a better leader to explain and win support’ for their policies. The Republican Party faced similar questions in 1949, after losing the previous five presidential contests. (Today, the party has lost the popular vote in five out of the last six elections.)”

While the mood may be icy when it comes to political sparring in Washington, there was a warm bit of good cheer in the U.S. Senate.  Minnesota's Sen. Al Franken, inspired by an old grade school tradition from his childhood, organized a Secret Santa gift exchange again this year.  The parties regularly tangle over government spending, but the senators did agree to a $10 spending cap for gifts. 

Aides say a bipartisan group of 60 senators participated by picking names, mostly across the aisle, keeping those identities secret and then delivering small presents at a gathering over eggnog and seasonal treats Monday night.

Frank Fey / U.S. Senate Photographic Studio

Sen. Al Franken, right, speaks with colleagues during the gift exchange.

Not just any fruitcake was served -- the Senate kitchen began making fruitcake a few months ago, giving the brandy enough time to soak the cake.  Due to fog that delayed some flights and therefore postponed Senate votes, some members were not able to attend the Monday party but were spotted exchanging wrapped gifts on the Senate floor late Tuesday.

Among the gifts given and received:

• Sen. Franken received a VHS copy of the movie "Tunnel Vision" and a DVD of  "Harvard Beats Yale 29-29" from Wyoming Republican Sen. John Barasso.
• Franken, in turn, gave Arkansas Republican Sen. John Boozman a mahnomin porridge kit from Hell's Kitchen, a popular restaurant in Minneapolis. Sen. Franken serves that breakfast porridge at his weekly breakfast with constituents.
• Florida Republican Marco Rubio gave Godiva chocolates to Delaware Democrat Chris Coons. 
• North Carolina Democrat Kay Hagan gave her state's famed peanuts to fellow Democrat Bob Casey of Pennsylvania.
• New Hampshire Republican Kelly Ayotte gave Hagan a book, "1,001 Gardens you Should See Before You Die."
• Wyoming's Mike Enzi, R-WI, gave Virginia Democrat Mark Warner a George Washington University T-shirt and a book on bicycling.  Aides say Enzi "refrained from getting him a book on freestyle BMX tricks because of the safety issues Sen. Enzi works on."
• Alaska Democrat Mark Begich presented a cookbook and wine from his home state to Missouri's Claire McCaskill.
• Nebraska Republican Mike Johanns gave Nebraska wine to Florida Democrat Bill Nelson.
• Johanns received a shirt for his undergraduate alma mater, St. Mary's University, from Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar.
• Montana Democrat Jon Tester gave home state chocolates to Ohio Republican Rob Portman.
• Portman gave Louisiana's Mary Landrieu a Cincinnati favorite, Graeter's Buckeye Blitz ice cream.
• Arkansas Republican John Boozman gave Georgia's Saxby Chambliss Mason jar wine glasses.

In 2011, the participation was a bit better, with 62 senators exchanging gifts. This year, with much year-end business left to complete, senators may spend more of the holiday season together as the “fiscal cliff” looms.

The Republican National Committee today launched an effort -- dubbed the "Growth and Opportunity Project" -- to examine what worked and what didn't in the 2012 election. The news was first reported by Politico.

The effort -- which will look at things like the ground game, messaging, fundraising, and the primaries -- be chaired by these five Republicans:
-- RNC member Henry Barbour of Mississippi
-- RNC member Zori Fonalledas of Puerto Rico
-- RNC member Glenn McCall of South Carolina
-- Florida political strategist (and Jeb Bush adviser) Sally Bradshaw
-- former Bush 43 White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer

The full release:

WASHINGTON - Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus today launched an initiative to grow the Republican Party and improve future Republican campaigns.

The effort, known as the Growth and Opportunity Project, will be chaired by five GOP leaders and is charged by Priebus with initially reviewing past practices and also making critical recommendations for the future in these eight key areas: 1) campaign mechanics and ground game; 2) messaging; 3) fundraising; 4) demographic partners and allies; 5) third party groups; 6) campaign finance issues; 7) presidential primaries; and 8) lessons learned from Democratic campaign tactics.

The group will reach out to hundreds of individuals including RNC Members, grassroots activists, donors, elected officials, community leaders and other important partners to gain insight and help the Republican Party form a solid path going forward. These leaders will be involved in one or more of these critical areas.

The Growth and Opportunity Project is co-chaired by five prominent Republican leaders:
Henry Barbour, National Committeeman from Mississippi
Zori Fonalledas, National Committeewoman from Puerto Rico
Glenn McCall, National Committeeman from South Carolina
Sally Bradshaw, Veteran senior strategist in Florida and national politics
Ari Fleischer, Former White House Press Secretary

They will report their findings to Chairman Priebus and make recommendations for a long-term strategy for the future.

"The Growth and Opportunity Project will recommend a plan to further ensure Republicans are victorious in 2013, 2014, 2016 and beyond," said Chairman Priebus. "I've appointed a talented group of individuals to study eight key areas, and I look forward to working with these outstanding Republicans as they conduct rigorous analysis and engage in important conversations. The work of the Growth and Opportunity Project will be critical as we move forward as a Party and take our message to every American."

"This is a time of great opportunity for the Republican Party," said Co-Chairman Sharon Day. "I am excited for the future of the GOP and am confident this project will strengthen our cause tremendously in the coming years."

In a surprising twist of political fortunes casting a deep impact on the South Carolina political landscape, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) announced today that he would resign his U.S. Senate seat to take over the helm of the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. 

Not surprisingly, DeMint's announcement has set off a flurry of speculation over whom Republican Gov. Nikki Haley would choose to replace the Tea Party-backed DeMint. 

The Palmetto State will now hold three marquee statewide contests in 2014 -- two Senate seats and the governorship -- creating potential opportunities for several South Carolina Republicans.

"It puts us right in the middle of the political epicenter," said former South Carolina GOP Chairman Katon Dawson. "It will showcase how diverse of a field we have and which we don't get enough credit for," he said. 

The big question remains whether Haley will opt to name a "place holder" (in the light of Paul Kirk in Massachusetts or Ted Kauffman of Delaware) who publicly announces intentions not to seek the special election in 2014, and run herself for the open-seat instead of re-election for governor. Or does she choose a successor to DeMint who will have the resources and credibility to defend the seat in a special election in two years?  

"Whether it's a guardian or a replacement who defends the seat in two years, we have a deep bench of conservative candidates in South Carolina," said Dawson. "Gov. Haley will avoid the noise, make the right choice and it will be a strong decision," he said. 

If Haley chooses the second option, three potential placeholders are Deputy Chief of Staff Ted Pitts (a former SC legislator), Nathan Ballentine (a current member of the South Carolina assembly with strong ties to Haley), and former Attorney General Henry McMaster (who competed against Haley for governor in 2010).
 
Republicans familiar with Haley's thinking don't believe that shadow ideology of either DeMint or Sen. Lindsey Graham will play a role in her selection.

"She's going to pick someone who lines up with her own philosophy rather than a clone of DeMint or Graham," the GOP source said. 

There has been speculation in recent weeks that Lindsey Graham -- who is known to seek compromise and broker deals in the Senate and who recently said he could violate the Grover Norquist pledge -- would face a primary opponent. DeMint's announcement possibly changes the political landscape much to Graham's benefit.

"I don't think there is a happier person in South Carolina right now, than Lindsey Graham," said Joel Sawyer a South Carolina Republican operative. "I don't think anyone saw this coming," he said. 

If he is forced to face a primary, a field of modest candidates taking aim at Graham will be better for the two-term incumbent versus a strong credible challenger jockeying to face him one on one. The conventional wisdom suggests than a serious well-resourced candidate will likely choose to seek the open seat than battle Graham in costly primary. 

U.S. Reps. Tim Scott and Mick Mulvaney have also been mentioned as possible contenders for an open Senate seat or as a candidate for governor should Haley run for the Senate seat.  

"He is definitely interested in running for the Senate," said a Mulvaney ally who requested anonymity to speak more candidly. "He has expressed interest about seeking the seat if Sen. DeMint were to retire and now we will wait to see who the governor appoints and assess the race after she's made a decision," they said. 

"Mulvaney is a rock star in South Carolina," Dawson said. "He took on a budget chairman who was in office for 28 years [Democrat John Spratt], and no one thought he could win."

UPDATED Noon ET: Paul Ryan’s claimed that the “urban areas” were a principal reason for President Obama’s win. And while turnout increased in many population centers in swing states Obama won, they don't fully explain Obama's sweeping win.

“The surprise was some of the turnout, some of the turnout especially in urban areas, which gave President Obama the big margin to win this race,” Ryan claimed last week. “When we watched Virginia and Ohio coming in, and those ones coming in as tight as they were, and looking like we were going to lose them, that’s when it became clear we weren't going to win.”

With provisional ballots counted in the last few days, the president did increase his vote total in many "urban areas" in swing states he won. On Election Night, as votes were coming in, it wasn't the case that the president was running up the score.

The president's margins weren't atypical for Democrats. They run up margins in population centers, and President Obama is no different. And certainly Obama's margins in Cuyahoga County, where Cleveland is, and Northern Virginia, put the president over the edge. But they weren't unusual or particularly high.

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So far, in Ohio and Pennsylvania, in fact, his vote totals are off from 2008, though ballots are still being counted and election results will change as more votes are counted. In 2008, more than nine million votes were counted after Election Day.

The one place where Obama did increase his totals significantly in population centers was Florida. There, he gained 56,000 more votes than 2008 in three counties – Miami-Dade, Hillsborough (Tampa), and Orange (Orlando). That’s 76% of his winning margin in the state.

In other swing states Obama won -- like Colorado, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Nevada -- Obama increased his vote totals, but not enough to significantly impact the overall vote margins in those states.

The “urban areas" vote

FLORIDA: +56,000 (Obama’s FL margin was +74,000)
Miami-Dade: +42,000
Hillsborough (Tampa): +13,500
Orange (Orlando): +700

VIRGINIA: +12,000 (Obama’s VA margin +149,000)
NoVA (Alexandria +3,000, Arlington +2,000, Fairfax +5,000, Fairfax City +100, Falls Church +400): +9,500
Richmond: +2,000 

WISCONSIN: +11,000 (Obama’s WI margin was 205,000)
Milwaukee: +800
Dane (Madison): +10,000

IOWA: +7,500 (Obama’s IA margin was 92,000)
Polk (Des Moines): +7,500

COLORADO: +6,000 (Obama’s CO margin +123,000)
Denver: +5,000
Boulder: +1,000

NEVADA: +5,000 (Obama’s NV margin was 68,000)
Clark (Las Vegas): +9,000
Washoe (Reno): -4,000

OHIO: -60,000 (Obama’s OH margin +106,000)
Cuyahoga (Cleveland): -37,000
Franklin (Columbus): -9,000
Lucas (Toledo): -14,000 

PENNSYLVANIA: -61,000 (Obama’s PA margin +284,000)
Philadelphia: -37,000
Allegheny (Pittsburgh): -24,000

Ben Smith: “Ten days after at least some Republicans were surprised to see Mitt Romney lose the presidency, the candidate is gone without a trace. There appears to be no Romney Republicanism to propagate. No Romney strategy to emulate. No Romney technology to ape. No generation shaped by his failed effort. And no Romney infrastructure to inherit, though he may still be asked to write and bundle quite a few checks.”

“Republican governors are torn between essentially staying the course in the wake of Mitt Romney’s loss and a more proactive strategy aimed at radically shaking up their party in an effort to reach out to young and minority voters,” Politico writes.

Yet, the AP’s Hunt reports, “From longtime GOP luminaries to the party’s rising stars, almost everyone asked about the Republicans’ Nov. 6 election drubbing seems to agree that a wholesale update is necessary for a party that appears to be running years behind Democrats in adapting to rapidly changing campaigns and an evolving electorate.”

(Really? Mitt and Ann Romney were spotted at the new Twilight movie in California, TMZ reports.)

Is this the answer? Florida Sen. Marco Rubio made a trip to Iowa. The AP’s Elliott: “Ostensibly, Rubio’s visit to this early nominating state was for Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad’s birthday party. But the political implications of Rubio’s visit were clear from the start as the Republican Party looks ahead to 2016’s presidential contest… But his birthday wishes for Branstad were more like a roadmap for his party looking for a new direction and an argument for a Rubio presidential campaign.”

So now Republicans say Romney wasn’t specific enough.

But, the Wall Street Journal reports: “Two weeks after their presidential election defeat, Republican Party leaders are falling into roughly two camps as they struggle to explain what happened and devise ways to broaden the party's base. Some top GOP officials worry their message is wrong for a rapidly diversifying population, and that fundamental shifts in policy may be required. But the more dominant voice, and the one gaining currency within the center of the party, says such drama isn't necessary. It asserts that Mitt Romney's loss to President Barack Obama was primarily a tactical failure….”

The Maine Republican Party Chairman claimed in an interview with NBC affiliate WCSH: “In some parts of rural Maine, there were dozens, dozens of black people who came in and voted on Election Day. Everybody has a right to vote, but nobody in town knows anyone who’s black.”

Despite defending his comments yesterday, he later apologized. In defending his comments, he said this: “There’s nothing about me that would be discriminatory. I know black people. I play basketball every Sunday with a black guy. He’s a great friend of mine.”

NBC Latino: "A new impreMedia/Latino Decisions tracking poll shows Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has a really big gender gap issue when it comes to Latina voters. According to the poll, Latina voters favor President Obama over Mitt Romney by a 53 point margin – 74 percent to 21 percent. What is more, 88 percent of Latinas say they are certain to vote in November. What is driving these numbers might be answered by one of the key questions of the poll. When asked which party could be more trusted to make the right decisions on issues of concern to women, almost eight out of ten Latinas (78 percent) said the Democrats could be more trusted, versus 13 percent who favored the Republican party. ...

"Hispanic women voters are not just favoring the Democratic candidate; they are favoring the Democratic party. While Romney’s favorability is only 22 percent among Latinas, it is even less for Republicans in Congress – only 20 favorability among Hispanic women."

Rep. Todd Akin, GOP candidate for the Missouri Senate, recently famous for his "legitimate rape" comments told NBC News that he's "totally in" and has no plans on dropping out of the Missouri Senate race despite many calls from leading Republicans to do so.

A cheerfully upbeat Akin said that internal polls conducted by his campaign showed a close race, one that he was "confident" he could win.

When asked whether the loss of national money from the Republican National Committee and right leaning Super PACs would hurt him, Akin responded, "people don't like the party bosses telling them to put somebody in after they have already elected somebody." He continued, "Everywhere I go, people come up to me and say keep up the fight, so I'm serving them."

Akin then drove his late 90s Ford Explorer off the Capitol grounds, on the rear bumper was a sticker "One Nation Under God" with an American flag.

There's been a lot of talk lately about the number of Democrats saying they won't attend the Democratic National Convention, including Sens. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Joe Manchin (D-WV). Both are from right-leaning states.

But unlike Democrats, who deny that politics are playing a role in their decision, former presidential candidate Jon Huntsman (R-UT) says he'll be skipping the Republican convention in Tampa because of the party's politics and policy positions.

Huntsman, who served as governor of Utah before becoming President Obama's ambassador to China, is widely regarded as a moderate and railed against the party's narrow focus.

"I have had several requests asking about my attendance at this year's Republican National Convention, which I have attended virtually every time since 1984, where I was a Reagan delegate," Huntsman said in a statement. "I will not be attending this year's convention, nor any Republican Convention in the future, until the party focuses on a bigger, bolder, more confident future for the United States. A future based on problem solving, inclusiveness, and a willingness to address the trust deficit, which is every bit as corrosive as our fiscal and economic deficits. I encourage a return to the party we have been in the past, from Lincoln right on through to Reagan, that was always willing to put our country before politics."

Huntsman has, however, endorsed Mitt Romney.

The Salt Lake Tribune first reported the news.

MONEY & VPs....National Journal looks the intersection between K Street and Cap Hill when it comes to the VP shortlist.

The Bain Game: Could the Obama campaign’s attacks on Romney outsourcing have an impact on the VP search? Yes, according to The Hill: “The Midwest and its perpetual angst over outsourced jobs would become ground zero in the presidential race, thus creating the demand for a running mate who could connect with Rust Belt residents and provide a counterbalance to Romney’s image as a wealthy executive — much as Vice President Biden is seen as a blue-collar offset to Obama’s professorial image.”

AYOTTE: She doesn’t like the Defense cuts that would be triggered by the debt-ceiling deal, aka, the “sequester” if Congress can’t reach a deal on what other items to cut. But she said it this way Tuesday, per The Hill: “I see this as a sleeper issue” in the election. "People react to burning fires ... [and] this fire is smoldering.” (Maybe not the best way to respond when there’s actually a serious fire in Colorado?)

She defended Romney while giving a keynote address to a conference examining democracy in Russia and, per CNN, Ayotte “said the GOP candidate's lack of direct foreign policy experience was bolstered by a strong team of advisers.” The New Hampshire Senator would NOT answer a question about the VP vetting process.

CHRISTIE: Per the AP: “New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says Mitt Romney didn't ask him to be his running mate when they appeared at a fundraiser on Tuesday. Christie also told a town hall audience in northern New Jersey on Wednesday that he has no inside information on who the likely GOP presidential nominee will pick as his running mate. He said he doesn't expect it will be him.”

And yesterday at a town hall, he gave an aspiring young politician some advice, which may give us some insight into why he ultimately decided not to run for president himself. Here’s the video, which was sent out from his office in a press release. The young man asks for advice, saying he hopes to one day be president.  “Because the press is here I’m giving you no advice on how to be President of the United States,” said Christie. And here is some insight into why he didn’t pull the trigger: “Don’t do it because someone said now is your only time -- gotta run now.  You’ll have all those people who are geniuses of politics. And the minute you lose, you won’t be able to get them on the phone.” 

PORTMAN:  On Romney, Portman said at the Reuters Washington Summit: "This is something I have never said publicly, I've told my wife this, but I think he'd be willing to risk being a one-term president in order to make the tough decisions that are going to be required.”

He also is taking steps to combat the zombie apocalypse.

RUBIO: “President Obama's decision blocking deportations of young illegal immigrants led to a swift branding effort by Republicans captured in a single, powerful word: AMNESTY,” the Tampa Bay Times writes. “But U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio is refusing to the same.” He told the paper: "I think there are some people that would define amnesty as anything that involves not enforcing the immigration laws. But in my mind, amnesty has always been a special pathway to citizenship that circumvents existing law."

Rubio, like Scott Brown, said again that Eric Holder should resign, accusing him of “stonewalling.”

In a video message today, Marco Rubio said of Fast and Furious, “I think this has gone on so long, and the stonewalling by the attorney general has been so egregious that I think he has to resign.”

And here’s a Daily Beast opinion about the merits of a Romney/Rubio ticket.

RYAN: He’s heading to Quincy, IL, next month to fundraise for Romney.

And he may want another gig other than VP, per RealClearPolitics: “Senior aides on the House Republican leadership team worship Ryan, but when they discuss his prospects, they talk of how badly he wants to chair the all-powerful House Ways and Means Committee (where four Republicans currently outrank him), rather than the executive branch.”

THUNE: He won’t call for Holder’s resignation yet, but told the Daily Caller: “I am certainly following closely.” He’ll appear on FOX Business today to discuss his efforts to block a European tax on U.S. air carriers and passengers flying in U.S. airspace.

NBC’s Alex Moe and Andrew Rafferty contributed here.