WASHINGTON -- Advisers to Mitt Romney are conceding that the video of his comments at a fundraiser earlier this year has come at a bad time -- seven weeks before election day, and with early voting getting under way in two dozen states. But they dispute the notion that Romney's comments could fundamentally change the presidential race.
On the tape, Romney is heard saying that nearly half of Americans "believe they are victims" and are dependent on the government -- and that those people will vote for President Barack Obama no matter what.
The Obama campaign is working to spread the quotes to any voters who haven't already heard them. The Democrats have emailed a fundraising appeal to supporters, and posted a video online in which voters are asked to watch Romney's comments and respond.
After the video was posted on the Mother Jones magazine website, Romney told reporters that while his comments were "not elegantly stated," he stood by his remarks.
Campaigning today in New Hampshire, running mate Paul Ryan focused on the limited-government argument, without mentioning the video. He promised that he and Romney would put Americans back to work rather than encourage dependency on the government.
Obama hasn't commented publicly on the video, but could do so today when he tapes an interview with David Letterman and delivers remarks at a fundraiser.
Full Video, Part 1 (Mother Jones)
Full Video, Part 2 (Mother Jones)
RAMALLAH, West Bank -- A prominent Palestinian is denouncing the comments from Mitt Romney about Mideast peace prospects that are included in a video that was taken of Romney at a fundraiser earlier this year in Florida.
In the video, Romney is heard saying that Palestinians "have no interest" in peace with Israel. And he says pushing Israel to give up dispute territory in exchange for a two-state solution with the Palestinians "is the worst idea in the world."
Palestinian lawmaker and scholar Hanan Ashrawi is accusing Romney of "destroying the chances for peace." Ashrawi calls the remarks "irresponsible and dangerous and both ignorant and prejudiced."
There's no comment from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, or from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
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WASHINGTON -- The grandson of former President Jimmy Carter says he persuaded the source who secretly taped Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney at a fundraiser to release the full video to the media.
James Carter IV says he was intrigued after seeing what he describes as a short, mysterious clip of Romney talking about Chinese factory conditions.
He told The Associated Press that he tracked the source down on Twitter in August and convinced them to trust a journalist at Mother Jones magazine with the clips. Mother Jones released the video on Monday.
On the video, Romney is seen telling donors that nearly half of all Americans think they're entitled to government help. He also says the Palestinians aren't interested in peace with Israel.
