I think it had a lot to do with women voters... Obama was able to paint Romney as anti-women and the 2 candidates making religiously fueled statements about rape did not help in any way. I don't think he was wrong necessarily in what he was trying to say in his 47% comment but that certainly didn't help him much either. So, why say it? Republicans need to know that every little mistake will be driven into the ground by the media while it ignores even large errors from Democrats.

John