I think he DID mean that he would take political advantage of a foreign policy crisis. He was, after all, speaking in what he thought was a private, un-aired setting. However, I would point out that there isn't a presidential candidate in modern US history who would not do such a thing. Does anyone think that any major party candidate would pass up such an opportunity? Sure it's tacky and shows no class, but that is the nature of American politics circa 2012.
Obama would probably say such a thing, or at least think it. He might be smart enough to not say it just in case he was being taped. Romney is a fool as a campaigner. That's about all that can be concluded from this. But then, pretty much everyone with even slight objectivity already knew that.
- wolf