The latest NBC/WSJ poll reflected the extent of damage those "47 percent" comments had on Mitt Romney's presidential campaign. Now, more than three weeks after the fact, the numbers suggested it's still very much on the mind of likely voters.
In the newly released study, 45 percent of voters said they felt more negative towards the Republican candidate after those secretly comments recorded at a private fundraiser. Meanwhile, 23 percent felt more positive and it didn't have much difference on 24 percent of those surveyed. After seeing, reading about or hearing about it, 51 percent view him less favorably and 28 percent had a more favorable opinion of him.
The poll also looked at the long-term impact of the gaffe that haunted President Obama — the "you didn't build that" line, a theme in which the entire RNC was built around. Pollsters found 36 percent of registered voters actually felt more positive about the president, 32 percent felt more negative and 26 percent say it did not make much difference.
On a broader scale, the poll found Obama up by three points against Romney, 49 to 46 percent, well within the margin of error and still within striking distance.
In an interview with Bloomberg TV, Paul Ryan (again) reiterated the 47 percent line from his running mate was "very inarticulate."
The Obama campaign has been playing up Romney’s comments as much as possible on the campaign trail and in TV ads.
The candidates face off in the first presidential debate Wednesday in Denver.
