Republicans 'fear Romney fallout'

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is refusing to backtrack from comments made at a private fundraising dinner that saw him label supporters of President Barack Obama as "victims" dependent on the government.

Mr Romney defended his views, insisting that the upcoming election offered a stark choice between his ideas and those of Mr Obama.

But there are already reports of discontent within the Romney campaign and of grumbling among senior Republicans.

Molly Ball, political writer for The Atlantic, gave her take on the row to the BBC's Laura Trevelyan.