Groups benefit from campaigns' focus on women's issues

Women's groups on both sides of the political spectrum are reaping the benefit of the campaign-season focus on women's issues, and say they have the opposing side to thank for the windfall.

By Jim Cole,, AP

Lilly Ledbetter, whose lawsuit led to the federal pay equity law that bears her name, speaks at a "Women for Obama" house party in Concord, N.H., on April 30.

By Jim Cole,, AP

Lilly Ledbetter, whose lawsuit led to the federal pay equity law that bears her name, speaks at a "Women for Obama" house party in Concord, N.H., on April 30.

Debates this year over contraception, federal funding for abortion services and Tuesday's Senate vote on equal pay for women have invigorated women's groups on the right and the left to try to sway the female vote.

Planned Parenthood has seen a steady increase in donations since Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation announced it would cut funding to the group for breast exams. Planned Parenthood raised $400,000 in the first 24 hours after the decision was announced. It was later reversed.

Last week, the group endorsed President Obama and launched a $1.4 million ad buy in swing states attacking Republican Mitt Romney.

Planned Parenthood Action Fund, has spent $1.6 million in independent expenditures this election cycle.

"Women's issues have not been the political football that they have during this cycle," said Dawn Laguens, Planned Parenthood's executive vice president for policy, advocacy and communications. Obama's administration "is the last line of defense" for women's basic health care, she said.

Laguens said Planned Parenthood is on pace to raise much more than it did in 2008 and plans to keep women's issues front and center throughout the summer and fall.

EMILY's List, a fundraising group for female candidates who support abortion rights, has doubled it's membership since January 2011.

Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILY's List, said the Republican takeover of the House of Representatives spurred the group's growth.

"Our membership has gone from 400,000 when John Boehner became speaker to 1.5 million," she said. "These debates over birth control, equal pay — even the violence against women act — the Republican Party has really been driving this and trying to move the clock backwards."

The group's super PAC, Women Vote!, has spent $443,755 since the beginning of the cycle on independent expenditures, according to the Federal Election Commission.

Terry O'Neill, president of the National Organization for Women, said the group is partnering with the American Association of University Women for a voter-mobilization project in 15 states. She said NOW saw an increase in fundraising and members after the Virginia Legislature passed a bill that would have required women to get a trans-vaginal ultrasound before having an abortion.

"What followed on the heels of the (Virginia bill) was the effort in the Senate to restrict birth control, and that's when the men started getting involved," O'Neill said.

Obama leads Romney among women 49% to 43%, according to the most recent Gallup polling. But Romney has been narrowing the gap. In late March, Obama's lead with women was 52% to 40% over Romney.

Conservative groups such as the Susan B. Anthony List, Concerned Women for America and the National Federation of Republican Women said they have seen increases in their membership and fundraising coffers as well.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, a group that supports candidates opposing abortion rights, said, "What has been going on in the public conversation has attracted a lot of new women into the political arena, and none more than in the pro-life and the conservative moment because of the role Obama has taken on himself in speaking for women."

She added the group's fundraising is up one third from where they were at this point in the 2010 election cycle. The group has pledged to spend between $10 million and $12 million on Senate and presidential campaigns in important states.

Prior to endorsing Romney in April, Susan B. Anthony List spent $512,403 on independent expenditures in support of former senator Rick Santorum's campaign during the GOP primary.

In the 2008 election cycle, the group's independent expenditures totaled around $114,000.

On June 1, Concerned Women for America launched a voter-registration program called "She Votes" and plans to spend $1 million on get-out-the-vote and voter-registration efforts.

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