That video was a gift to Obama and devastating to Mitt.
Romney is terrible R candidate to begin with not just because he had to take positions that are different than his, but more-so he is a living Democrat caricature of what they say Republicans really are, out of touch rich elites who look down on the voters they need and secretly hold them in contempt. Romney is the LAST person who could sell any domestic budget spending cuts, maybe cuts to the military and he is opposed to that. (there is a connection between the two)
So what does Romney do? He gets caught on tape telling rich donors he is giving up on lower income 47% of Americans, the ones who pay no income taxes.
This is loser talk that you save for after you lose as an excuse, as Obama would use voter ID as an excuse for losing. . The fact that it was a secretly recorded tape that Romney didn't mean for the general voter makes it look even worse for him,
This MR comment on MR-care is proof that Romney+CO know that video is killing them, he is saying Romney-care is proof of his compassion for Americans:
Romney cites his healthcare law as proof of his compassion LA Times ^ | September 26, 2012 | Seema Mehta
Compassionate just like Obama. right? See the trap Romney is in?
On a possibly positive side, the fact Obama polling so high early could trigger buyers remorse from many voters. But Romney HAS to stop saying stupid stuff. He is killing his own chances.
And I suspect that Obama's strategists had been saving it for the right moment.
Sept 11 2012 attacks on US embassies/consulates (challenging the notion "Obama killed Bin Laden and we all lived happily ever after"),
Sept 17 2012 Romney 47% video released.