GOP TARGETS WOMEN VOTERS – AT 9:49 A.M. ET:  The Republican Party shows signs of entering the modern world of politics.  Now it is starting to do what it should have done years ago, address the gender gap in elections.  From Reuters: 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Republican party officials are putting together a new election year messaging campaign to reach women voters on issues including Obamacare, jobs and education as they seek to gain an advantage in the Nov. 4 congressional elections.

About three weeks of internal polling and focus group research has identified jobs and household finances as the most important issues among 1,206 likely women voters, according to the Republican National Committee, which commissioned the surveys along with the National Republican Congressional Campaign.

Party officials said Obamacare was also a top issue, with 55 percent of women polled opposing President Barack Obama's signature domestic policy and 43 percent voicing strong opposition.

The findings show far more opposition than independent public opinion polls, including a Kaiser Family Foundation tracking poll that showed 43 percent of women and 48 percent of men opposed to Obamacare in May.

The research identified the phrase "start over" as a message that resonated with many women on Obamacare. The Republicans have been seeking to bridge the gap between loyal voters who want the healthcare law thrown out and those who favor retaining its consumer protections as part of a different reform environment.

A CNN/ORC International poll last month showed that 61 percent of Americans want Congress to leave the Affordable Care Act alone or make some changes to the law in an attempt to make it work better. Thirty-eight percent said the law should be either repealed or repealed and replaced with a completely different system.

The research, intended to help craft Republican campaign messages for the summer and autumn, comes as analysts say tightening races in Louisiana, North Carolina and other key states have highlighted the importance of attracting swing voters.

COMMENT:  Yes, we're seeing the term "tightening races" rather often, and it's generally not good news for our side.  Many Republicans thought Louisiana and North Carolina would be easy Senate pickups this year, but they're proving difficult.  Both states have large African-American and Hispanic populations that are loyal to the Democratic label.  Gaining control of the Senate will be difficult, but it is critical.

June 19, 2014