WASHINGTON (AFP) - Mr Mitt Romney faced a new campaign storm on Monday after the release of secretly filmed video in which he told rich donors that nearly half of Americans were dependent "victims" who didn't pay taxes.
President Barack Obama's campaign quickly seized on the controversy, which erupted after a string of tough days for the Republican's campaign, questioning how Mr Romney could serve as president having written off half his nation.
In the excerpts of video posted by the left-leaning Mother Jones magazine, Mr Romney is seen to say in a closed-door, private fundraiser, that 47 per cent of Americans will vote for the president "no matter what".
"There are 47 per cent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it."
