WASHINGTON, Nov 16: Prominent Republican leaders rejected on Friday Mitt Romney’s claim that President Barack Obama won last week’s election against him because he had given “big gifts” to voters.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who once was considered a possible running mate for Mr Romney, urged the former Republican presidential candidate to accept defeat.“You can't expect to be a leader of all the people and be divisive,” he said on MSNBC's Morning Joe. “I always think this is scapegoating after elections. When you lose, you lost. Someone asked me, why did Mitt Romney lose? That's why.”Mr Romney told his supporters earlier this week he believed President Obama won re-election because he had given minorities and young people “big gifts” in the form of healthcare, allowed young Latino immigrants to legalise their stay and offered partial college loan forgiveness to students.

Senator Kelly Ayotte, a New Hampshire Republican, told MSNBC that Mr Romney was absolutely wrong. “I don’t agree with the comments. I think the campaign is over.”

Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican from Florida, said “our mission should not be to deny government benefits to people who need them”.

After Mr Romney’s decisive loss on Nov 6, Republicans leaders are trying to move away from him, fearing that his statements may also hurt their political ambitions.