Michael Steele advice to Romney: Deal with healthcare ‘elephant’

Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele said on Monday that Mitt Romney must assuage concerns about his healthcare law if he wants to win the GOP presidential nomination.

Asked about potential GOP presidential contenders waiting to join the race, Steele said some like Romney (R) have to shore up potential problems for their campaigns.

{mosads}”For Mitt Romney, there is a healthcare elephant he has to deal with among the base,” he said on ABC’s “Top Line” webcast.

Steele is the newest member of a growing group of Republicans who have criticized or questioned the healthcare law Romney signed when he served as governor of Massachusetts. 

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R), and other key Republicans such as House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (Wis.) have attacked the bill that critics have dubbed “RomneyCare” as a failed approach that mirrors President Obama’s plan, which is deeply unpopular within the GOP. 

Steele has stayed relatively quiet since losing reelection as RNC chairman in January. During his two-year tenure, he was frequently criticized by Democrats and Republicans for straying off message while speaking out about politics.

The former chairman said that Romney’s staff does not want those “talking points” out there and explained that the former governor, who also ran for president in 2008, must craft a persuasive explanation for the law.

“It is, it is what it is,” he said of the law’s critics. “He’s really going to have to test some messages.”

Romney appears to be testing out a response. During a speech to New Hampshire Republicans on Saturday night, Romney admitted his plan has flaws, but is better than the president’s, which he wants repealed.

“Our experiment wasn’t perfect. Some things worked; some things didn’t. Some things, I’d change,” he said. “But one thing I would never do is usurp the constitutional power of states with a one-size-fits-all federal takeover.”

Steele expressed confidence that Romney could convince skeptical voters.

“I think he can do this, lay out very cleverly what he wants,” he said.

For his part, Steele says he is hoping to sign on with a cable network as a contributor and said he is doing some writing, adding that he still has to put his children through college.