Im chuck todd. Pac show for you, i promise. My first reads of the morning, nearly two years ago, president obama gave a speech in el paso calling for Immigration Reform, stronger Board Security and a path to citizenship. El paso, the question is whether those in congress who previously walked away in the name of enforcement are now ready to come back to the table and finish the work that weve started. Well, now that a Bipartisan Group of senators have come back to the table, the president today will praise the principles this group of eight laid out calling for the country to get behind in senate plan. As white house Senior Advisor dan pfeiffer just tweeted, today, potus will applaud the Bipartisan Senate agreement consistent with his longheld view and lay out his vision for Immigration Reform. The Washington Post is the reporting the white house has develop the its own Immigration Reform plan more liberal than the senate outline. Yes, there is a plan that the white house has. But for now, theyre not unveiling it. Had the bipartisan senators not acted yesterday, you likely would have seen the president offer his own plan. But the senators did act. And their plan is the plan. There is no state that better epitomizes the power of the latino vote in american politics than nevada. 2010, harry reid won 69 of latinos in his race against sharron angle. Two years later, obama won that vote matching what he received nationwide. They make up 27 of the states population overall, 19 of the actual voting electorate. Critics also charge the president though is making a political point by flying nine hours to make this immigration speech. Five there, four on the way back. But in some ways hes returning to Del Sol High School where he was met with huge crowds during his 2008 campaign, a day after the groupf senators unveiled their new plan for dealing with roughly 11 million undocumented People Living in this country. This trip, by the way, is all about the white house saying hey, we made a Campaign Promise. And were going to go to places that they made this Campaign Promise to show were trying to fulfill it. We have been too content for too long to allow individuals to mow our lawn, serve our food, clean our homes, and even watch our children while not affording them any of the benefits that make our country so great. Other Bipartisan Groups of senators have stood in the same spot before trumpeting similar proposals, but we believe this be the Year Congress finally gets it done. Well, if big deals happen in washington when the partys selfinterests align. Senator john mccain has been very blunt about the selfinterest of the Republican Party. One, as ive stated before elections. Elections. The Republican Party is losing the support of our hispanic citizens. When mccain has come quite a bit aways in the last several years. He was forced to the right in 2010 on this issue. Complete the dang fence. It will work this time. Senator, youre one of us. Now defending the president s policies to critics. In a release fascinating release, a frequently asked question, little faq sent out by a Senate Office and he also was defending the president s policies on fox on this one. Is it not realistic to think that a nation such as ours could not secure our borders . Is that not realistic . Come on. Of course, we can secure our borders. Mccain in that release noted that one of the things that has changed since 2007, a net zero migration right now from mexico when it comes to immigration. By the way, mccains camaraderie in arms, senator Chuck Schumer has also been involved in this issue for many years. Here he is back in 1986 when the first immigration plan known as Simpson Mazzoli was about to be passed. The American People have become aware that millions of people are just coming over the borders and that nothing has been done. And for once, people have said look, you may not, it may not be a perfect bill, but its better than nothing. Well, going back to 86, some critics of this compromise are saying look what you promised in 86 and look what happened. This morning on morning joe, both mccain and schumer echoed the white house saying theyre not getting ahead of the president. Hopefully, we kind of Work Together with the president as we did in previous times. The president was extremely supportive. He put out a very nice statement yesterday and i think while he will show this is ideal of where we should be, he will work with us to produce a good, strong bipartisan bill. In defending the bill to conservatives, though, were seeing the past and future of the Republican Party. In mccains the party past, markio rubio is its future. This is an important test for rubio. One of Ronald Reagans great talents was selling compromise to the base of his party and declaring victory while doing it. Can rubio pull this off especially on an issue some conservatives have opposed in the last two president ial elections. I has spent the last 24 hours trying. Different from the proposal in 2007 that create aid brand new thing called a z visa which was a blanket and you had to do very little to qualify for it. Amnesty is the forgiveness of something and nothing here is being forgiven. Today hes going to talk to rush limbaugh. By the way, some republicans privately believe their best course is not to look like theyre giving the president a win on any of this. Here was sean hannity last night who the importantly has warmed up on Immigration Reform after the election. To be honest, i frankly have little or no trust in the senator schumer, senator durbin and president obama. Its the most thoughtful proposal that i have heard and youve explained better than anybody, but the devil will be in the details. Also last night on fox, you saw South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham who is part of this deal trying to make this happen and, of course, has his own 2014 reelection prospects to worry about. Always looking over his right shoulder for a primary. So he chose to blast the president while supporting this deal on fox. But if you want to talk about the president bringing us together and being a bold leader, in 2007 when we tried to do Immigration Reform, he folded like a cheap suit. What ive heard about what hes going to say, hes going to say theres no need to link a pathway to citizenship to border security. Excuse me, mr. President . All right. Lets call this what it is. It is all kabuki theater because this is about some of these republicans having to say publicly certain things so it doesnt look like theyre overgiving the president anything. Its for their own politics on the right. Meanwhile, Senate LeaderMitch Mcconnell also on the ballot in 2014 said in a statement very kurt statement, in order for any reform to be successful, congressional committees will have to review and write this legislation through regular order. This effort is too important to be written in a back room and sent to the floor with a take it or leave it approach, a nice way of saying mcconnells language of saying i dont like the idea of a gang of eight writing the bill. In fact this language was almost identical to a statement by jeff session whos said no secret accord with profound consequences for this nations future can be rushed through. That means a full Committee Process and debate and anticipates on the floor of the senate. As sessions made clear in a floor speech tag teaming with louisiana david vitter also not a fan of this deal. No one should expect the members of the senate are just going to rubber stamp what a group that have met and decided. What heightens my concern is that we have history as a guide and history suggests this brand of socalled comprehensive Immigration Reform, this promise of enforcement as long as we have an am necessities, all of those things put together is a recipe for failure. By the way, though, the push for committee stuff is a way of trying to kill the deal overall. Thats why you hear some folks, theyre not coming out against it right away but when theyre calling for committee action, its their way of trying to kill it. More members of congress who dont want to publicly oppose this deal will continue to talk about the process, going through the regular order. Thats what this whole thing is about as an effort to kill it. The senate is expected to vote on john kerrys nomination to be secretary of state today. Easy confirmation. If hes confirmed and if his letter of resignation is received tomorrow, massachusetts will set the special general election for june 25th. The primaries take place april 30th. Governor Deval Patrick is expected to announce his pick of interim senator to fill the seat till the special election which he talked about yesterday. Abb your philosophy, sir . What does that mean . Anybody but barney . No, dont be like that. This is a chance for you to make history. Are you going to make history . Well, im going to make an appointment of someone im confident will be a good steward in the interests of the people of the commonwealth for the four or five months until the people elect their permanent representative. And shes promised not to run in the election . Nice try. Well, that she there, that was a reference to Vickie Kennedy who is a apparently definitely on the short list. Along with former congressman barney frank and patricks former chief of staff william mo cowen. Patrick has suggested he will choose a woman or person of color to what he says reflects the changing face of politics in massachusetts. Is former senator scott brown going to run . A new poll showed him with a double digit lead over the potential democratic lead, ed markey, brown seemed to hint at a run tweeting yes, get ready, perhaps a response to the Popular Democratic party rallying slogan these days, are you ready . The massachusetts special election kicks off what will be a busy twoyear cycle. 21 democrats, 14s Republican Senate seats up for grabses in 2014, fourlong time senators announcing they wont be seeking reelection in addition to kerry. Theres jay rockefeller, Saxby Chambliss and iowas tom hark. The Republican Party story is the same. What the primaries look like . Do republicans coalesce around a more electable candidate in a state, whether its a minnesota, whether its an iowa or does the more conservative candidate win . Do the special interest conservative groups get involved . Can carl robe get involved in clear primaries as he hinted he wants to do . Democrats are most concerned about clearing the field and have shown an ability to do that. And theyre also trying to deal with their own potential retirements and recruitments, something theyve done successfully for the past couple of cycles and will already in iowa in the case of bruce bayly. Next well see what happens. Theres two big retirements that the democrats are bracing for. They seem to be prepared for the Frank Lautenberg one in new jersey. A little theyre more concerned, but theyre expecting potentially one in south dakota with tim johnson and they know if he doesnt run, in what would already have been a tough race will be even a larger uphill climb. Up next, changing the way the game is played. Will other states follow virginias lead and shut down this effort to up end the electoral colleging . Bob mcdonald is coming in to talk about, plus guns, immigration, future of his party and new evidence today that the United States is devoting money and manpower to the newest front in this war with al qaeda. Its in north africa. First, a look at the president s schedule, as you know, all about vegas, baby. Were watching the dal ily rundn only on msnbc. [ male announcer ] eligible for medicare . Thats a good thing, but it doesnt cover everything. Only about 80 of your part b medical expenses. The rest is up to you. So consider an aarp Medicare Supplement insurance plan, insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company. Like all standardized Medicare Supplement plans, they help save you up to thousands in outofpocket costs. Call today to request a free decision guide. With these types of plans, youll be able to visit any doctor or hospital that accepts medicare patients. Plus, there are no networks, and youll never need a referral to see a specialist. Join the millions who have already enrolled in the only Medicare Supplement insurance plans endorsed by aarp. And provided by unitedhealthcare insurance company, which has over 30 years of experience behind it. With all the good years ahead, look for the experience and commitment to go the distance with you. Call now to request your free decision guide. Something this delicious could only come from nature. New nectresse. The 100 natural nocalorie sweetener made from the goodness of fruit. New nectresse. Sweetness naturally. Weve got a lot of work to do. Weve got to get the Republican Party back on track. We do that by winning the argument of ideas. We have to stay united. We have to show that if given the chance, we can govern. That we have better ideas. We are the great opportunity party. Were the growth and opportunity party. Beat are the government of the people party. And that needs to be the point of view and the perspective that we come from. The republican reflection continues as the party discusses ways to make the tent bigger and reach out to new voters. Theres this proposal thats been floating in some states to change the way the Electoral College is allocated from winner take all to some sort of congressional proportional system. Some republicans say it would have changed the 2012 outcome. Joining me is Virginia Republican governor bob mcdonnell. He opposes the idea. Explain why you oppose the idea . Both democrats and republicans have introduced that idea right after theyve lost a president ial election. I think its a bad idea because it changes the mix. The winner take all by state i think is the right way to go, consistent with federalism. I think most republicans ought to step up. It looks like you lost the election. Scott walker, hailey barber. To stop it. And thats not going to happen in virginia. Weve got other republicans that have come out against it. You think it shouldnt happen in michigan. Im afraid people will ignore virginia if that happens or theyll only go to maybe one Congressional District in virginia. Thats not the way to go. You ought to campaign statewide. We were pretty relevant in this last election as a swing state. Its not what our founders intended. Im content with the current law. I was interested by something you said over the weekend. You made the community organizing. You said we mocked this five years ago. Turns out theyre pretty good at community organizing. What do you mean by that . Do you think youre not speaking very well . One of the criticisms ive heard from some conservatives is the party doesnt persuade anymore. Theyre not making an argument, just saying democrats are wrong, were right. Deal with it. Thats the point. You cant show up six months before an election and say heres all my great ideas, im against those guys and vote for me. Thats not going to cut it. Community organizing being all day, every day out there in the communities persuading people were con sertism works and why it produces better results for them and their family and the things they care about. Roads, schools, public safety, health cares. Our ideas produce results. Thats the republican governors story. Weve got 30 of them getting things done, balanced budgets, lower taxes, more jobs. Thats what people want. They want a job, they want to get out of debt. We can show them were conservatism generates those results. What do you think youre hearing from this bipartisan proposal in the senate on immigration . Are you for what youve heard and do you think what theyre talking about fits the definition of amnesty . Theyre on the right path. This has been a solution that eluded everybody since reagan signs the bill to have a fix for that. We need a comprehensive solution. Border security, better security within the country and then a pathway to citizenship for those that are here because sending 12 Million People back to some other country is not going to cut it. What you just described some people call amnesty. Do you understand why . I do. What i understand about the proposal and ive just taken a look at it, its pretty tough love. It is penalties for violating the law. And it is a large number of things have to go through before you qualify. You get in the back of the line. You have to learn english, civics before youre considered for citizenship. Its a thorny issue. The good fuss is Bipartisan Group in both houses are working on this. Marco rubio helping to lead the fight is a good thing. I want to talk about your proposal on transportation to abolish the gatt tax. A lot of people saw this and say that doesnt make sense. Why . Is it because the gas taxes youre collecting, is it a shrinking pool of revenue . Its a longterm dying source of revenue. Why do you believe that. One inflation is eating up 55 of the gas tax since it was last raised in 1986 in virginia. Two other issues. One is alternative fuels. Were going to be using other