Analysts say the Romney comments are damaging, at least in the short term.

“And then he makes the colossal mistake of presuming you can say things in secret," said presidential historian Allan Lichtman. "We know in this day and age that everything is photographed and recorded and that you can’t just write off half of the American people as dependents and people who don’t pay taxes."

The comments could also hurt because voters already find the president more likeable than Romney, says Quinnipiac pollster Peter Brown.

“His favorable to unfavorable ratios have not gotten better and voters say Obama much more understands their needs and their lives than Romney, and that is a problem for the challenger," said Brown.

Obama has built a slight lead in the polls since the party conventions and may be benefiting from an improving public perception of the economy, says Allan Lichtman.

“That [the economy] was his one big area of advantage over Obama. That’s gone and on almost every other issue - you know, likeability, national security, foreign policy, health - Obama is ahead," he said.

Romney’s best and perhaps last opportunity to give himself a boost will come in next month’s debates, says Peter Brown.

“We are in the final stretch drive and the president is ahead. Now there are events that afford Romney perhaps the opportunity to change that status quo," he said.